Cooking up Romantic Magic with Author Sandra Sookoo

Nights of Passion is happy to welcome back our magical cooking romance author Sandra Sookoo.

Sandra, tell everyone what makes you happiest about being a romance author.

First of all, thanks for having me back!  You’re one of my favorite interviewers.

I guess what makes me happiest in romance writing is watching my characters work out their problems and grasp their HEA.  Let’s face it.  Real life sucks sometimes and happy endings are few and far between.  That’s why I like writing, period.  I escape into my character’s lives and it’s really nice to see everything come to a great conclusion.

Why do you feel cooking is an important part of romance writing?

I think the kitchen is the heart of any home, so it just follows that food is an expression of love.  Food is a hands-on form of art full of scents, textures, tastes.  Oftentimes, the main characters prepare a meal or desert together, bringing them closer and sometimes it generates very sexy results.

Will you share a recipe?  Please!

Of course! This is a recipe from my upcoming release EXILES FROM CHRISTMAS.  Available from www.lyricalpress.com on November 16, 2009

Landon’s Coconut Snowballs

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1/3 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 egg whites

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a small bowl, combine the coconut, sugar, flour and salt. Stir in egg whites and vanilla; mix well.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 325 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Sounds yummy.  Tell me, Sandra, what was the most fun about writing A FOODIE’S GUIDE TO KITCHEN MAGIC?

The most fun was providing highly descriptive details about food and the attraction that spring between my characters in the kitchen.  Cooking with someone you love is sexy and even more so when that love is between the pages of a book.

Please, tell our viewers all about the book.

Foodies is the brainchild of an over active imagination residing in a foodie’s body.  I wanted to write a book that used food and love.  When I set out to write it, I was at a low point in my pre-published career.  A trip to my local Penzey’s Spice store was the key to unlocking the rest of the book.  Nothing like being surrounded by cooking spices to get the juices flowing, pun definitely intended! 

Visit here for purchasing info:  http://www.lyricalpress.com/foodies_guide_to_kitchen_magic

What I love about your books, Sandra, is that you write in different flavors.  Now for a switch.  I’m in the mood for something let’s say ghostly.  Let’s talk about THE HAUNTING OF AMELIA PRITCHART. 

Amelia was written at the same time as Foodie’s.  This time I wanted to take on the creepy, haunting quality of Halloween with a ghost story, but I wanted it to be grounded as well.  So, I developed a dual plot line story.  I love the fall season and all it’s delicious, shivery, story telling atmosphere.

It releases September 30 from The Wild Rose Press and I’m so excited!

Here’s the blurb: 

Amelia Pritchart’s life is a mess.  Her house is crumbling down around her, she’s got a bad case of writer’s block, and divorce papers await her signature.  The trouble is, she still loves her husband.

And if that’s not bad enough, she comes face to face with a ghost—who has problems of her own.  The restless spirit demands Amelia help her tormented soul so she can finally rest in peace.  Intrigued, Amelia sets out to grant the wish, but soon finds there’s much more to the ghost than just being dead.

When her estranged husband shows up on her doorstep on Halloween, Amelia must face two pasts, both full of pain.  Can she help the ghost without becoming eternally haunted? And can she face her own fears and insecurities about her marriage in order to grasp the second chance at happiness her husband offers?

Please visit this site for purchasing info:  http://thewildrosepress.com/publisher/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2297&Itemid=176 

I understand that you’re celebrating the release date of THE HAUNTING OF AMELIA PRITCHART with something special.  So spill it.  Tell us about your contest on the launch and be sure to give directions on how they can participate.

Yes indeed!  For this release, I thought I’d do something different.  I’ve set up a Yahoo group designed specifically for my book launches.  The contest is September 30th, the same day as the release.  I’ll do a message “chat” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST and 3 random names of the chat participants will be chosen during the chat and will be awarded goodie bags with promo stuff inside. Drop by, ask me anything and just have fun.

Here’s the link:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sandrasookoobooklaunchparty/

Well, that sounds like fun.  I’ve been visiting your site and you’re just a busy bee.  I found you have a book that’s been winning awards.  Don’t keep our readers in suspense.  Tell us about WINNER TAKES ALL.

WINNER TAKES ALL was my 2008 NaNoWriMo entry and I’m proud to say it’s been garnering a few 5-star reviews and has been entered in the 2010 EPIC contest by my publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing, which I’m beyond thrilled about.

Here’s the blurb: 

Lily Henderson’s greatest passion is knowledge.  Christopher Farnsworth thrives on order and decorum.  But Lily’s penchant for Suffragette rallies and logical reasoning soon clash with Christopher’s quiet, controlled ex-military lifestyle over a bowl of potato soup.

The two agree to a wager and love is the intended outcome.  The premise?  A suitable match by Easter.  If he loses, he’ll attend Easter church services dressed in one of his aunt’s outrageously colored and beaded gowns.  If she loses, she’ll ride, Lady Godiva-style, around the heart of Indianapolis. 

The problem is neither Christopher nor Lily can find matches as good as themselves.  Romantic sabotage is the order of the day.  The original wager is forgotten when the only thing the pair gamble with is their hearts. 

Please visit here for purchasing info:  http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-25/Winner-Takes-All/Detail.bok

What do you think people find so much fun about WINNER TAKES ALL?

It’s fun because it’s a lighthearted poke at historical novels in general and because any one of the incidents my heroine Lily finds herself in could happen to any one of us.  I like to write with humor and this book has a heavy dose of that.  If you haven’t already, I invite you to buy a copy, forget your troubles in reality and have a few laughs.

Please, excuse me while I turn up the heat.  I can’t help myself.  You’ve written something for the holidays? 

Yes.  The first story in my Holiday Magic series will release on November 16 with Lyrical Press, called EXILES FROM CHRISTMAS.  I wanted to try my hand at turning the Santa myth on its ear and give it my own explanation.  I hope readers will like visiting the mythical town of Crystal Falls and come back soon.  They’ll be many more residents to meet in coming months.

Here’s the blurb: 

Santa’s nephews have come to Crystal Falls to run a cookie business. If they fail, they’ll have to go back to the North Pole and fill their uncle’s black boots when he retires. But sick of toys, elves, and the North Pole’s influence, that’s the last thing Landon and Aaron want. They’re looking for love.

Jayne isn’t much for sentimental family holidays and she certainly doesn’t believe in magic. Working in the Crystal Falls post office, she is mystified when she handles mail bearing a North Pole postal mark.

When Landon and Jayne meet, their attraction for each other is undeniable, but will the truth about Landon’s life make Jayne a believer, or will it be his love that finally melts her heart?

Please visit this link to purchase:  http://www.lyricalpress.com/exiles_from_christmas

Any new surprises?

I feel like every few weeks I discover a new surprise about me or my writing.  For now, let’s just say I’ve got a handful of things coming in the next several months that will be a departure from what you’ve read from me before.  Lots more adventure, lots more tension, and a fair amount of heated love scenes, if you know what I mean.  Hints?  Pirates, firemen and vampires, all sexy, sometimes naked and all willing to do—well, you’ll just have to stay tuned to find out!

Any last words for our viewers who write?

Keep writing and never, ever give up the dream.  The publishing world is rapidly changing and any good author worth their salt will tell you to keep digging in and trying for that contract.  You’ll be insanely happy you did.

It’s always great having you on Nights of Passion, Sandra.  Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for having me, Susan.  If reader’s have any questions or comments, they can reach me at sandrasookoo@yahoo.com

For those of you that can’t get enough of Sandra Sookoo’s enchantment, you can find more at: 

http://www.sandrasookoo.com.  Check back often for information on new releases and book trailers.

She blogs every Wednesday at Paranormal Romantics:  http://paranormalromantics.blogspot.com/

And Thursdays at Frightening Journeys:  http://paranormalwriters.blogspot.com/