Interview & giveaway with Sandra Sookoo

Welcome back Sandra.  For those who missed you the first time you were on the blog can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’m getting ready to turn forty, I live with a computer/gamer geek husband and I write romantic fiction. Plus I’m a foodie, a Disney nut and a lover of tea.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Ever since the day in the fifth grade I decided to either be a writer or a cake decorator. I completely fail at decorating cakes LOL

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?

Well, usually I start writing around nine a.m. That is unless I have errands to run in the morning. I strive for 1-2K a day but don’t sweat it if I don’t hit that goal.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Hearing from readers is the best part of writing.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

My latest story is an erotic Regency-era pirate story called ACT OF PARDON. It’s a story about a disenchanted missionary’s daughter who’s out to kill the pirate she thinks killed her father and fiancé. Captain Westerbrooke sails the seas on the Lady Catherine. He’s a hard man working a harsh profession, but when he meets Sarah at the gallows, his interest is captured. The bad thing? They’re both very stubborn and their viewpoints often clash… out of the bedroom.

Here’s the blurb: Retribution and sorrow can bring redemption and salvation if you look hard enough.

The year is 1814 and piracy is drawing to an end in the Caribbean yet Sarah Covington, a disenchanted missionary’s daughter, has a plan to kill the pirate who murdered her father and fiancé. When the assassination attempt goes horribly wrong, she’s taken aboard the Lady Catherine as prisoner. Though she’s forced to embrace a life of degradation and subservience by the very pirate she tried to kill, he stirs passions she never knew she harbored.

Adrian Westerbrooke captains the Lady Catherine but not by choice. Officially a privateer under England’s protection, he has his own agenda and will take down targets for the highest bidder. The only problem is the beautifully flawed Sarah. He’ll try everything in his power to break her spirit and make her bow before his. At sea, his word is law, no matter how much she intrigues his mind and inflames his body.

Yet Sarah possesses a stubbornness that matches his own, on deck and in the bedroom, and a battle of wills begins. As trust grows, so does their desire–whether they can survive the threats at sea while working through their differences is up to faith… and perhaps love.

Excerpt:

She shook her head and swallowed to alleviate her dry throat. He didn’t deserve her lustful curiosity or approval. He was evil and a murderer. She wanted him dead.

Again, her elbow was jostled.

“‘e’s a looker, ain’t ‘e miss? Cap’n knows ‘is way around a woman’s body, true.”

“Ain’t that a fact?” Another deeper, and no less smarmy, voice said from her other side.

The first man gave a bark of laughter. “Not’n gets a lady more filled with desire than seein’ a real pirate. Seems they all fantasize about the masters of the seas and bein’ takin’ by ‘em jest the same.”

“What I feel for him is not desire.” And why am I talking to either of these men anyway? Yet warmth ebbed over her skin. Her gaze slid down his torso, past the ragged red sash around his waist, to his tight-fitting breeches tucked into dusty boots. She frowned, as much from the flutters filling her stomach at seeing the faint outline of his manly parts as from the recognition of the excellence of his clothes. What quality fit and expensive Hessian boots for a pirate to own. Of course, he’d likely stolen them.

She tamped her response, angry that her body betrayed her so badly. He deserved to have the clothes and boots stripped from his dead body for all the crimes he’d committed. She closed her fingers around the dagger’s hilt. Almost time.

On the platform, the Spanish general read out what she assumed was a list of charges in his heavy, lyrical language. He paused as the British counterpart translated the charges: treachery, thievery, murder, treason, and a host of others.

John Westerbrooke—pirate—and a captain no less. Sarah bit her lip. An alias no doubt. She narrowed her eyes. Titled or not, he’d swing the same as any man. Once he was finally dead, she could begin to put the pieces of her life back together, such as they were. Perhaps she’d sail to a far-flung country. That thought garnered another snort. And do what? I’ve never been anywhere outside America, never had an adventure of my own. She shook her head. It did not matter. Even if she did manage to travel, she had no survival skills. Hadn’t her father told her time and again she needed someone to look after her? Her stomach pitched. While her future would be bleak, there’d be small comfort in the fact the pirate wouldn’t have one.

As the list of charges concluded, the British general asked, “Do you agree with these accusations?”

One of the pirate’s full eyebrows inched toward his hairline. “I disagree inasmuch as I had no choice with the bulk of them, but on a gentleman’s grounds, I would say yes, I am guilty.”

A collective gasp rose from the crowd.

A strained smile lifted the pirate’s lip. “However, these crimes do not fall squarely on my shoulders as a pirate never acts alone.”

Several nods and verbal affirmations circulated through the gathering.

The hangman touched the pirate’s shoulder. “Captain Westerbrooke, would you like the courtesy of a hood?”

The pirate glared at each man on the platform. “I refuse to assuage your consciences. If you wish to put me to death by hanging, then you can watch the proceedings in all their gruesome color and detail. May God have mercy on your souls.”

Sarah gasped at his daring. Put in the same position, wouldn’t she feel the same way? There was always a chance—however slim—the man wasn’t guilty. A snort escaped. If that were true, then why was he here, since he’d all but admitted to some of them? There must be too much truth that balanced the lies, yet she hated the tiny niggle of compassion she felt. I cannot forget he murdered my father. Ruthlessly ignoring everything except the bite of the metal in her palm, she concentrated on the activity around the pirate.

The hangman took a position near the lever that would release the trapdoor. The crowd strained forward, once again hushed. The other men on the gallows resumed their previous military posture; their gazes focused on the pirate. The olive-skinned priest opened his Bible and began to recite the Twenty-third Psalm in accented English. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”

Now!

Her heart lodged in her throat, Sarah raised her hand, and with a quick flick of her wrist, she let the dagger fly. The morning sun glinted off the blade as it arced sure and steady toward the platform. Any second now I’ll have my vengeance fulfilled. The priest chose that moment to move in front of Captain Westerbrooke. While he made the mark of the cross over the pirate, her blade embedded deep into the priest’s back. He staggered. The Bible tumbled to the wood as he fell to his knees.

Dear heavens, this wasn’t supposed to happen.

Pandemonium erupted, robbing her of the ability to think. Their sabers drawn, the men on the platform plunged down the wooden stairs. With nowhere to hide and no open path to flee through, she attempted to shrink within the confines of her cloak. Her heart slammed against her ribcage. I killed the wrong man.

You can buy the book at Amazon, All Romance e-books and Smashwords, or visit my website to be connected with buylinks.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Probably because I’ve always been fascinated with pirates. Part of the fun of writing pirates stories is doing the research. I love all the stories and legends.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Right now I’m working on a sci-fi piece when I’m not finishing off shorter pieces. I’m kinda taking it easy for the month of August and letting my brain have a break.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I’m actually waiting for the last book in the Wicked series by Gregory MacGuire. Such a great series.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for having me back on your blog. It’s always a great time when I’m here. Also, I’m offering a $10.00 (ten) Amazon gift card plus book swag to a random commenter. Please remember to leave your contact information.

Want to connect with me online? Find me here:

Website:  http://www.sandrasookoo.com

Believing is Seeing blog:  http://sandrasookoo.wordpress.com/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/sandrasookoo

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/sandra.sookoo

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