Featured Author - Sandra Cox! - Part 2

Thanks to our readers for your patience. It took me a bit to post this as I've been dealing with a sinus infection induced migraine again this past week.

We hope you enjoy Part 2 of our Sandra Cox feature!

MLM: We'd like to start our interview with some questions about your life outside of writing.As February is Valentine season, we want to know - Who is that special someone you consider your valentine?

SANDRA: The happy hubby

MLM: Will you two be doing anything special for Valentine’s Day this year? Care to share the details?

SANDRA: Nothing huge. We’ll go out to eat and exchange valentines. One year we inadvertently gave each other the exact same cardJ

MLM: If you could choose your ultimate Valentine’s Day gift, what would it be? Have you ever received this as a gift?

SANDRA: A surprise get away weekend.
Uh, no.

MLM: One of the greatest things about the Internet is that we can connect with writers of all kinds from all over the globe so we want to know:

a.)What area of the country/world are you from?

SANDRA: I’m from North Carolina.

b.)What are the average temperatures of your area?

SANDRA: At this time of year, normally it would be 40s and 50s, though this year has been unusually cold.

c.)What type of clothing would most residents be wearing today?

SANDRA: A lot of people wear shorts this time of year, but again, not this yearJ

d.)What tips do you have for people to “survive” the weather where you are?

SANDRA: Buy a winter coat instead of wearing a jacket.

MLM: Say you’re at a cabin in the mountains, it’s not exactly warm out and you had the option of where you wanted your hot tub to be. Would you have the hot tub inside or outside the cabin? Why? What is it that you like specifically about it being inside or outside the best?

SANDRA: I’d want it inside near a fireplace and window where I could watch it snow. It’s nice to be cozy inside when it’s cold outside.

MLM: If you could go anywhere in the world for Valentine’s Day, where would you choose to go? Why this destination over others? What’s its connection to you?

SANDRA: Seattle. I’ve never been there and I’ve always wanted to go, plus maybe I’d run into Edward CullenJ

MLM: You've given us some great answers so far, but let's move on to your life inside of writing. Why did you choose the Paranormal Genre of YA Fiction? What was the draw for you?

SANDRA: I love paranormal in any genre. It just adds a kick. There’s something about mysticism and magical powers that’s a draw. Don’t you think?

MLM: Definitely! All of us are influenced and impacted by TV, movies, books and/or authors at different times in our lives. Who, what and which TV, movies, books and/or authors influenced you? When in your life did you discover them and why were they so influential for you? (Don’t be afraid to give us more than one of each kind!)

SANDRA: Twilight, of course, sucked me right in. Also Nora Robert’s Circle Trilogy. I followed Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody’s exploits for many years. Bottom line, I love a well-written book with characters that leap off the page and insist I accompany them to their world.

MLM: Considering the TV, movies, books and/or authors mentioned, is there one TV, movie, book and/or author in particular that you try to emulate in your writing? Which one(s) and why? Please be as specific as you can! J

SANDRA: I really like the way Nora Roberts (JD Robb) and Stephanie Meyer create such enthralling stories. They build a world you can conceptualize without giving us more information than we want. And they give us such a strong connect with their characters. True art in my opinion.

MLM: If you could describe your writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please look beyond words like mysterious, suspenseful, creative, unique etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

SANDRA: Ooh you’ve got some challenging questions. Since you won’t let me use the above words. Grin. I would like readers to think they’ve read ‘a well told tale.’

MLM: In Part 2 we asked you about your ultimate Valentine’s Day gift. Have you ever used that as a gift in one of your stories? If so, which one and what was the situation?

SANDRA: No, but now you’ve planted the seedJ

MLM: Also in Part 2 we asked you about where you’d put the hot tub and why. Does this show through in your writing? If so, give some examples how, please!

SANDRA: No, actually the opposite. A lot of my stories take place outside under a full moon……

MLM: Who decides what characters/creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over their actions and the plot, or is the muse always the one deciding who done it, where they done it and with what?

SANDRA: We have an understanding. I create the characters. My muse handles the storyline.

MLM: Of all the stories you’ve written please tell us:
a.)Which character/creature did you have the most fun creating and why? What about this character/creature makes it stand out above all the others?

SANDRA: You know every book I write, I connect with my characters so I can’t really put one above another. I will say I’ve had a lot of fun with cousins Jolene and Zoe. They are such opposites. Zoe is such a girlie-girl and Jo is in your face and doesn’t take anything from anybody.

b.)If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters/creatures in real life, who would it be and why?

SANDRA: Again, it would be hard to nail it down, but at this very moment. Braden Knight of Vampire Island and Moon Watchers. For a vamp, he’s pretty sexy.

c.)Which of your characters/creatures would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why

SANDRA: The werewolf queen or her pack in Moon Watchers. They’re pure evil.

d.)If you could choose to visit one setting/world you’ve created which one is it, where is it and why this destination over all the others? What makes it stand out over all the others?

SANDRA: Well, since the vamps have been cleared out, I’d like to go to Vampire Island. Warm sun, tropical breezes, and white sandy beaches sound pretty good about now.

MLM: Sandra, thanks so much for a wonderful interview!

I sure know that I want to return to Vampire Island! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I need to see more of Zoe's Uncle Julian! He's a hottie that doesn't make me feel like a cougar, lol!