QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Sandra Brown, Bookreporter.com's featured Suspense/Thriller author for September, answers readers' questions about coming up with story ideas, researching her latest book, HELLO, DARKNESS, and more.

Bach2Lmp@netscape.net, Dotcu@aol.com, ItsAggie@aol.com, InMyHeart01@aol.com: How do you come up with ideas for stories/plots?

Sandra Brown: Ideas come from everywhere. I watch a lot of news magazine shows and read a lot of news magazines and frequently I use topical subjects for the basis of a story. Other times, the plot arises out of a character that impresses me for one reason or another. Or, plots come straight out of the blue. Typically, I start with a protagonist whom I try to pit against an antagonist who represents a real threat. I've been asked where my villains come from. They come from my greatest fears. I read somewhere that a novel is only as good as the villain, and I believe that to be true.

Cama@pnx.com: I'd be interested to know if she plots/outlines the entire novel prior to doing any writing. Also, does she always know the outcome before beginning?

Sandra Brown: Typically, I write a very loose outline which I discuss with my editor. I know the central characters, the main conflict, and the outcome, but I don't know everything. If I did, I think I would be bored before I began. Part of the fun for me is waiting to see what's going to happen.

Rhoannac@yahoo.com: Your writing involves the reader like no other author I've read. Does the writing process of work with such depth prove to be emotionally draining on you?

Sandra Brown: I become extremely involved emotionally, physically and psychologically with my characters. By the end of the day, I feel like I've run a marathon.

Austadj@aol.com: I would like to know how she started writing. Did she have stories running around in her head, did she start young, did she start with suspense?

Sandra Brown: I started writing when I got fired from a job in television, but I soon realized it was work I had been preparing for all my life. I was a married woman with two children, but I started it as a career, not a hobby. My first foray into fiction writing was in romance novels.

Cam2006@aol.com: HELLO, DARKNESS was so well researched, sometimes I felt like I was inside Valentino's head. I read your acknowledgments at the end of the book. The police department, CIB, KSCS-FM, they gave you a great deal of help. Before becoming a Best Selling author would this info be harder to obtain. What I am asking is, is it harder for a new writer to obtain research info?

Sandra Brown: HELLO, DARKNESS required me to research extensively, and thankfully the people whom I interviewed shared a great deal of expertise. The Austin Police Department was somewhat reluctant because of security reasons, but once they became familiar with my credentials, I was given access that proved to be invaluable. It might be somewhat harder as a new writer without a publishing history to obtain full access and information.

Janrogoway@earthlink.net: Is there another SB in the works? If so, when will it be out?

Sandra Brown: I'm presently working on another novel coming out in the fall of 2004. It doesn't have a title yet.

Mad4rombks2@earthlink.net: Will she ever write any more historicals?

Sandra Brown: Although I enjoyed the three historicals I wrote, I don't plan to write any more in the near future.

Indigo_rhapsody@comcast.net: 1. After having a few poems and a short story in print, I'm currently working on my first full length novel. It's going slow, but good. Tell me...how do you keep your self focused and keep the words flowing when the words just up and take vacation? Not writers block; the words just head to the sunny bahamas and leave me behind in the windy city. 2. Will you be in the Chicago area promoting your book? I'd love to get my ARC signed. That would complete the honor.

Sandra Brown: a) I find the only cure for a sluggish brain and words that are reluctant to appear on paper is to try and ignore the malady and keep writing. b) Chicago is not on my tour but I look forward to my next trip there. Please refer to my website at www.sandrabrown.net for details on future trips.

COMMENTS FROM READERS

jt@luther.vic.edu.au
This is such a great story --- surely this should be made into a movie. Regards from a fan.

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