SFR Brigade Puts Sandra Sookoo Under the Big Spotlight!

I'd like to welcome new member, Sandra Sookoo, to the Brigade. She subjected herself to our big spotlight and has emerged unscathed from the experience! 

Let's see what we found out about Sandra during our interroga--interview.

Sandra is a writer of romantic fiction.  Her portfolio includes historical, contemporary, sci-fi and paranormal romances.  She loves to blend genres and spice them up and often times will add humor as well.

After catching the writing bug at the young age of ten, she’s gone on to grow her unique writing style.  She’s a regular contributor for the Paranormal Romantic’s blog and has a great time keeping things interesting at the Believing is Seeing blog.

When not immersed in creating new worlds and interesting characters, Sandra likes to read, bake and travel.  Her favorite place to spend vacation hours is Walt Disney World.  It’s where dreams come true and the soul can play.  That suits her just fine.

Writing is her ultimate dream job.

Please tell us a little more about yourself: 

I’m a thirty-something woman who lives with my Halo obsessed husband of eight years. I love everything Disney, I’m a foodie who hits the kitchen when I’m having trouble with the writing, and I’m an author of several books spanning a lot of genres in the romance field. When I’m not writing, I’m either cooking, making beaded bookmarks or reading mystery novels.

We’d love to hear more about your book, Damaged Cargo

My next release is an erotic sci-fi romance called Damaged Cargo (releasing September 15^th with Purple Sword Publications http://www.purplesword.com)  This is exciting to me because it’s my first foray into this particular genre and while it’s the hardest genre I’ve ever tackled, it’s almost the most rewarding.  In Damaged Cargo, my main character, Emma, is a space pirate who lies, cheats and schemes her way through a Victorian throwback galaxy. She encounters the hero, Tarik, on his home planet of Nazulara where he’s fighting against mandatory breeding and only wants to kill his father. The sticking point? The ship Wraith Orchid where…oh but wait, you’ll have to read the book to find out more!

Would you like to share any upcoming projects (and links):

My next sci-fi romance is entitled Blink and will release from Eirelander Publishing on November 5^th (http://www.eirelander-publishing.com) I love this story because it’s an exploration of the relationships between two humans (Charlotte and Jax) and an alien (Garreth), how emotions come into play and how each of them comes to terms with exactly who they are and why they’re happy to be that way. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this read.  It’s the book that started the sci-fi bug in me. 

What do you like about writing SFR?

I like being able to explore human nature as they encounter races and worlds that are foreign to them and how they interact with different cultures. For me, sci-fi adds a deeper element into the relationship and makes me, as a writer, think and a different level than with other romance genres.

What do you find challenging about it?

LOL It’s sci-fi! Seriously, the biggest challenge I find is not being that familiar with ships and gadgets, stuff like that. When that happens, I usually hit up my husband and ask him how things can work or will it even be possible. The poor man has to help me work through plot problems too. Do I like the challenge?  You bet.  It expands my brain and gives me a blank canvas to work with and allows my imagination to really soar.

What is your favorite SF book or movie?

Well, what really got me interested in sci-fi was the SG-1 series LOL I still haven’t managed to work my way through all the episodes but I find it fascinating. Also, I have a love affair with Firefly.  All of this world building is so interesting to me and makes me want to write more in this genre. 

If you could have a robot that did one chore/task and only one, what would you choose?

Hands down housework.  This is what suffers most while I’m on a writing jag.

Favorite mode of fictional travel?

I’d like to have a time machine or a transporter, either one.  Okay, or a portal gate. Imagine how we could all reduce our carbon footprints with one of those!

You can write to Sandra, visit her website or look her up on Facebook and Twitter.

Damaged Cargo Book video  

Blink Book video  

Blurb for Damaged Cargo:  When survival is of the utmost importance, it’s best to shoot first and ask questions later, especially if you won’t like the answers. 

The 22^nd century is heinous.  Finding a comfortable life in the Levinese Galaxy grows increasingly difficult. 

Emma Gardine, one of a handful of female pirate captains in this throwback Victorian society, begs, borrows, steals and cheats her way through the planetary system on the hunt of a profit.  An expert of guarding her heart and keeping people out, she never shows remorse and uses people until she gets what she wants, yet the hope for a normal life glimmers just beyond her reach.  Then she meets Tarik Vartouth and her world splinters with new emotions and possibilities. 

Tarik survived the murder of his sisters and the collapse of his laid-back existence. He’s sick of the mandatory breeding programs for genetic supremacy on Nazulara that sends innocent people to death and desires to campaign for democracy for his species. When the opportunity to befriend Emma is presented, he takes it and makes a play for her ship in order to carry out his own plot for revenge against his father—the Premier and ruler of the planet. Stakes are raised when sparks between him and Emma fly.  Now their future and Nazulara’s, hangs in the balance. 

Again, welcome aboard, Sandra!