Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Aloha to Amy Sandas and LUCK IS NO LADY


Amy Sandas joins us today to celebrate the release of her LUCK IS NO LADY, Book One in her Fallen Ladies series. 

Amy Sandas's love of romance began one summer when she stumbled across one of her mother's Barbara Cartland books. Her affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She lives with her husband and children near Milwaukee.

Kim: You hail from Wisconsin. What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of The Badger State?

Amy: Definitely autumn. Northern Wisconsin is a web of forests, lakes, and gently rolling hills. When the leaves turn in the fall, the world becomes vibrant with color. The sun still shines, but the wind has a new chill as it rustles through the trees. The air takes on a crisp, earthy scent that is both comforting and exhilarating. I could do without Wisconsin winters, but autumn is something not to be missed.

Kim: Who or what helped you along the path to publishing?

Amy: RWA, for sure! Once I decided I wanted to try to become an author, I spent so much time online researching the process of submitting to agents and editors, the query letter, the synopsis, etc. I told myself it was too soon to join RWA since I didn’t even have a full book written yet. But once I did join, I realized I should have done it a lot sooner. There is so much information available and the community is priceless. It helps a great deal to know you are not alone on this frightening and exhilarating journey.

Kim: What inspired LUCK IS NO LADY?

Amy: It all started with an idea of two people meeting unexpectedly behind a shadowed curtain. I didn’t know why they were there at first, but I loved the sense of intimacies being whispered between complete strangers. There was something poignant about the vulnerability in such an encounter, as well as the liberation. The rest of the story took a couple different forms before it settled into its current state, but everything began with that first encounter.

Kim: What's next for Amy Sandas?

Amy: Right now, I am taking a hop over the pond to focus on an idea set in the American West during the 1880’s. It is about a young lady from Boston who is desperate enough to get travel west that she’ll even accept the escort of a rough and dangerous gunslinger. Once she can convince him to take her, of course. Unfortunately, he has a mission of his own and it does not involve taking on the responsibility of protecting a fine and pampered lady from the east.

Old South Meeting House in Boston

Mahalo, Amy, for sharing a glimpse into a writer's life! Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of LUCK IS NO LADY to one randomly selected commenter (US only). 

“You should not have kissed me,” she replied breathlessly.

“I do a lot of things I shouldn’t. It does not mean I won’t do them again.”

Gently bred Emma Chadwick always assumed she’d live and die the daughter of a gentleman. But when her father’s death reveals a world of staggering debt and dangerous moneylenders, she must risk her good name and put her talent for mathematics to use, taking a position as bookkeeper at London’s most notorious gambling hell. Surrounded by vice and corruption on all sides, it is imperative no one discovers Emma’s shameful secret or her reputation—and her life—will be ruined.

But Roderick Bentley, the hell’s sinfully wealthy owner, awakens a hunger Emma cannot deny. Drawn deep into an underworld of high stakes gambling and reckless overindulgence, she soon discovers that in order to win the love of a ruthless scoundrel, she will have to play the game...and give in to the pleasure of falling from grace.


Amazon  Apple  BAM  B&N  Chapters  Indiebound  Kobo

To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about Wisconsin - what do you know about Amy's home state?

2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 2, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 3.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Amy at amysandas.com.

The Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn in Chase, Wisconsin 
as built in 1903 as dairy farming spread across the state
Public Domain (link)



31 comments:

  1. Good cheese and food

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  2. Aloha! Thanks for inviting me to chat about Wisconsin and Romance! Best of luck to those who enter the giveaway.

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  3. Growing up and living in Illinois I have visited the cheese state many times.......oh yea they are the home of The Green Bay Packers.

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  4. cheese?! LOL... I haven't visited but it sounds fun! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Wah! I'm ashamed to admit that I don't know anything about Wisconsin! How sad is that? We even had American History and Social Studies in High School "back in the day," but I still don't remember anything about Wisconsin. But I do know one thing, Kim: I'm glad I read your blog today because you introduced me to Amy and her writing! I'm anxious to read one of her stories... Thanks for the post. jdh2690@gmail.com

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  6. Home of the Green Bay Packers, lots of dairy farms, and a beautiful state (I hear). However, I'm too big a wimp to live there since the winters are so cold. :-)

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  7. We go to Wisconsin Dells for vacation and conferences. Great scenery!

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  8. Cheese is about the only thing I know about Wisconsin, except it's cold there!!

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  9. Sadly, I don't know a lot about the state aside from its geographical location and they are known for wearing cheese slices on their heads during games.

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  10. I've never been there but I think of dairy farms, cheese and the Greenbay Packers.

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  11. Everyone pretty much has Wisconsin figured out. Cold Winters. Cheese. Green Bay Packers. :)

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  12. I've never been to Wisconsin, and just know (like everybody else) that cheese comes from there. This book sounds lovely, and I would love to read it.

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  13. I have never been to Wisconsin, but I know its capital is Madison and it is famous for its cheese.

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  14. I don't know much about the state, but I do know there are a lot of Green Bay Packers fans....even here in San Diego.

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  15. It's terrible that all I can say about Wisconsin is that it's home to the Green Bay Packets and their excellent cheese.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  16. It's terrible that all I can say about Wisconsin is that it's home to the Green Bay Packets and their excellent cheese.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  17. cheese, brats, and beer? :) and Green Bay Packers.

    Denise

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  18. I've never been to Wisconsin & don't think I know anyone from there - I think Wisconsin is well known for excellent cheese.

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  19. As a neighbor to WI I get to enjoy fresh cheese curds. Yum!!

    Amy is right though, autumn is not to be missed. The beautiful colors and the crisp smell to the air is hard to top!

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  20. Our daughter went to Steven's Point Environmental Center there for a Girl Scout Wider OP. She had a wonderful time and met some nice people. We still have not yet visited the state, but it is on our list and we hope to visit there in the next fee

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  21. Renowned for its cheese!

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  22. My grandmother had a cabin in Siren Wisconsin when I was growing up. She them sold and moved to Webster Wisconsin on Yellow Lake. My parents ended up buying a cabin next to her...so we spent alot of time in Wisconsin growing up. Fond memories of the bunk house and listening to Neil Diamond 8 track tapes, and driving through the wild life refuge looking for deer! :) Love Wisconsin!
    landfjacobson @ charter . net

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  23. I don't know anything about that state unfortunately I'm far away from there

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  24. Nothing, except they are famous for cheese.

    ladbookfan

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  25. My favorite beach is Wrightsville Beach on the southern North Carolina coast near Wilmington. Spent many summers relaxing with our extended family there.

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  26. Nothing except the cheese thing going on.
    Karen T.

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  27. Not a thing. Have never visited.
    Patty B

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