Title: Breath of Scandal
Author: Sandra Brown
Genre: Adult, Suspense, Thriller
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Publisher: Grand Central
On a rainy Southern night, Jade Sperry endured a young woman’s worst nightmare at the hands of three local hell-raisers. Robbed of her youthful ideals and at the center of scandal and tragedy, Jade ran as far and as fast as she could. But she never forgot the sleepy “company town” where every man, woman, and child was dependent on one wealthy family. And she never forgot their spoiled son, who with his two friends changed her life forever. Someday, somehow, she’d return . . . exacting a just revenge, freeing herself from her enemies’ grasp, and, perhaps, fulfilling a lost promise of love.
I loved writing romances, but I wanted to include elements of mystery/thriller/suspense into my stories. For me, it was a natural merging of the two. The sexual tension raises the stakes for the protagonists – because a person is never more afraid than when a loved one is threatened. And the suspense adds a sense of urgency to the developing relationship.
When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process(outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
My second draft is the “crafting” draft. It’s the hardest part of the process, but also the most enjoyable. I created the scene in the first draft, so the essence of it is there. But in the second draft, I take it apart, rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, until I’ve milked as much from it as I can. Sometimes I work on one scene for several days.
When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I read in several genres, and I like all of them. I have only one requirement: “Tell me a story.” I don’t care if it’s historical or contemporary, sweet or erotic, fast-paced thriller or family saga. When I open a book, I want to be captivated by the characters and entertained.
If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
Tennessee Williams. He got the whole “southern” thing.
Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
Somewhat “later.” I was thirty before I began writing to publish. Before that I was a career reader. In order to be a writer, one must be an addicted reader. Reading is essential.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including DEADLINE(2013), LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), & HELLO, DARKNESS (2003).
Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.
A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program “PM Magazine.”
In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Thanks for hosting today, Heather! :)
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