LYNSAY SANDS
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From Lynsay Sands' Website:
Okay, I guess you'd probably like some information. Well, my name is Lynsay Sands and I write historical romances for Leisure Books. I have always loved writing, have always written, and have always known I would be a professional writer someday. Well, mostly always. Okay, on those icky-feel-like-crap-and-didn't-think-I'd-live-to-see-the-age of-20-days (I think they call them the teen years now), I didn't always feel that way, but the rest of the time I did. I just knew I would do it, and that it would happen. Mostly ... Anyway, it did happen. Yay, yay, yay!
If I were a lesser person, I might now send a big raspberry out to all those teachers, friends, and relatives (you know who you are) who used to smile at me with condescension and say, "Uh huh, and what are you really going to be?" But, instead, I'll tell you that I live in London, Ontario, Canada (yes, we have one too), which is called the "Forest City" because it has so many trees. Its population is somewhere around 450,000. I moved here after graduating from University, but I was born in a small town in Southern Ontario where there were only 12,000 people, and spent a good part of every year on an island in the middle of the Great Lakes which had perhaps 500 people. It also had a co-op, corner store, beer store, tavern and one hotel at that time.
I mention the island because I really think that growing up there is what turned me into a writer. Whatever inborn urge, skill, or desire I had to write was definitely fostered and nurtured in that environment. There was no TV on this island, at least we never had one there, and reading was my entertainment of choice. (Perhaps you can see why when I tell you that I was too young to frequent the tavern.) It also helped that my father and grandmother were always nagging me to "put that book down and get outside and enjoy the fresh air". Being the contrary sort, as most teenagers are, I would simply determine to read more and would take the book outside with me. I read on the beach, on the cliff, on the boat, in a lawn chair, anywhere I could find a comfy spot. I got lots of fresh air with my romance. I also ruined several books along the way. (Warning here: from my experience with paperbacks, I would not recommend taking an e-reader, or whatever it is they call those e-book readers, onto an air mattress or an inner-tube in the water. Unless they make them waterproof.) Fortunately, my grandmother was a demon romance reader and always had a large supply to pilfer from while I waited for my soggy books to sun-dry.
Despite the fact that I miss the water and have a burning desire to move back, moving to London was one of the smartest moves I have ever made. My family is almost all here, and this is where I got published.
And now to the interview ...
Bee: I attached the basic information from your Webpage, but is there anything new going on (such as you are living in England right now, why this happened and what you are doing there)?
Lynsay: Yes, I've moved to England. Hmmm, what to say here. I'm in love. I'm engaged. And it's with the sweetest, smartest, most wonderful guy in the world for me, who happens to be a Brit. So here I am in England.
Bee: You seem to jump genres. Do you have specific interests in Medieval eras and contemporary time periods? Historicals vs. paranormals vs. contemporaries?
Lynsay: I don't tend to think of it as jumping genre. I think of myself as writing romantic comedy, no matter the venue. However, between the three venues I've done, Medieval, contemporary, and vampire, Medieval is my first love. I really enjoy history and the research spurs lots of ideas, but I like writing other time periods as well if I have a good idea come to me. Ideally, I'd love to put out a couple of books a year in both historical and vampires.
Bee: You use humor consistently in your writing. Why does this particular writing style appeal to you?
Lynsay: I like to laugh. It's that simple. Life often isn't all that funny. In fact, it can be a royal pain at times, but I can write worlds or stories where it is funny and ends happily. Why wouldn't I do that?
Bee: Do you find it difficult to be funny consistently? How do you find your humor when you are having an UNfunny day?
Lynsay: Writing humor when you aren't feeling particularly funny can be hard. On the other hand, finding that sense of humor can help you through hard times too.
Bee: Your Website outlines the series about "the dysfunctional family of vampires named Argeneau". The first one, SINGLE WHITE VAMPIRE, I found extremely entertaining. I am looking forward to LOVE BITES this month. You also mention continuing a story line from THE KEY that intersects with THE DEED. Do you like bringing characters from other books back into new books? Is this difficult to do?
Lynsay: If I like a secondary character, I often consider stories for them. And I've liked a lot of my secondary characters. Writing about them often gives me a chance to revisit the primary characters and see how they're doing too. The only difficulty with it is to be sure the timelines of the stories run smoothly.
Bee: Will you ever do a historical vampire book?
Lynsay: Actually, I've done a historical vampire short story for Kensington. It was in an anthology called HIS IMMORTAL EMBRACE with Hannah Howell and two other ladies. That book came out last September at the same time as SINGLE WHITE VAMPIRE. And I am presently writing a second historical vampire anthology for Kensington. As for a full length historical vampire, yes I may very well do so in future. In fact, I've been toying with an idea for the last little while.
Bee: In your website you write, "I guess I'm just not really a high society type gal. But then my sense of humor should have warned you of that. I don't suppose high society types would find farting horses and stinky Scots funny." To what do you attribute your rather ... visceral ... sense of humor? Was your family delightfully odd? Did you have brothers?
Lynsay: No, I have no brothers. It was all girls for my parents. Three of us. I'm the middle one if that means anything. As for delightfully odd ... hmm ... LOL. My mother was an interesting woman. A sweetie for sure, and very intelligent, but in an "absent minded professor" type way. I'm pretty sure my sisters and I got our sense of humor from her.
Bee: Do you prefer cats or dogs?
Lynsay: Oh, that's a tough one. I like both. Dogs are cuddly and affectionate and loyal, wonderful pets. But when I'm on deadline and don't have time for anything or anyone, the independent "I just want to be left alone" attitude of cats can be more handy and less guilt inspiring.
Bee: What is your favorite type of book to read?
Lynsay: I bounce between horrors and romances. Preferably funny, or at least light, in either genre.
Bee: Do you have any advice for aspiring romance writers with a sense of humor?
Lynsay:
Write in your own voice. If you have a sense of humor, use it. Otherwise, don't try to
force one. The story comes out best when it's in your own voice. It's your story after all,
only you can tell it as it needs to be told. Bending your writing style to what you
think it 'should' be just won't work. And don't give up. Write it, and send it out, and
send it again and again, and keep writing. Never take a rejection as a sign to give up.
Thank you, Lynsay, for the many hours of reading fun - and for taking the time to do this interview for us!
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