Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is very happy to shine our Friday spotlight on Historical and Paranormal Romance Author Lynsay Sands.
I asked Lynsay to tell us a little bit about herself and her writing, and here was her wonderful response:
My name is Lynsay Sands and I’m the author of the Argeneau series and many hysterical historicals (as my readers tend to call them). I have written over sixty books and twelve anthologies, which probably tells you I really enjoy writing. And I consider myself very lucky to have been able to make a career out of it!
So, Linsay, where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester–though they should totally check here first!)
Other than Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester <G>… readers can find my books at most brick and mortar bookstores (Chapters, etc); online bookstores (Amazon, Barnes&Noble, etc); Sci-Fi bookstores; stores that display mass market bestsellers (Walmart, drug stores, grocery stores, etc); Audible; iBook; Kobo, etc.
Online store links… http://www.lynsaysands.net/books/argeneau/immortalangel.html
How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?
LOL… you can follow me on my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, newsletter and email. They’re all listed below!
Website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Lynsay-Sands-125138040836322/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynsaySands
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynsaysands/
Tumblr: https://lynsaysands.tumblr.com/
Email: lynsay@lynsaysands.net
For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write? What can readers expect from your latest books?
With the Argeneau series, they can expect an action-packed, fun adventure where the two main characters turn out to be life mates and fall head over heels for one another as they solve a dilemma. And, of course, family and/or friends end up helping them out along the way. The story always starts with a bang and usually ends with a bang as well.
With my Highland Brides series readers can expect an action-packed, fun and funny adventure that inevitably ends up with a wedding and maybe a bairn, or two (or even three 😱) by the end of it. And their family and friends, especially the Buchanans, help them through as they get to know one another.
What draws you to the particular genre or style that you write? What do you think draws readers to these kinds of books?
The escape from reality and the guaranteed happy ending. Life is full of enough depressing and sad stuff. I like getting away from it to somewhere that I know there will be happiness at the end, that all those struggles and the heartache suffered is paving the way for a happy ending. Guess, that makes me a sap, but . . . oh, well.
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Of the whole writing and publishing process? What do you think has been your greatest lesson in the journey thus far?
The stories are my favorite part. I love finding out what’s going to happen, and that really is how it goes for me. I know a lot of authors plot their stories and know what is happening before they type the first word, but I can’t write that way. The few times I’ve tried to plot first, I just couldn’t write the stories. They were already there in my head, like a movie I’ve already seen or a book I’ve already read. Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again. So, I tend to start with a scene or character who pops into my head and then I follow the characters around to find out what the heck is going on and where it will all end . . . and quite often, the characters surprise me. I’ll think they’re going to do one thing, and they suddenly take a sharp turn and do something entirely different. I love when that happens! It means the characters have kind of taken on a life of their own in my head.
As for my greatest lesson in the journey so far. . . Well, it’s that everyone isn’t going to like my stories. Or me for that matter . . . and that that’s okay. It doesn’t make my stories bad if someone doesn’t like it, any more than it means there’s anything wrong with me if they dislike me. I don’t like everyone I meet, or every story I read either. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is I’ve learned that I shouldn’t worry so much about what others think. All that noise out in the world, the anger, the put downs, the insults and so on. . . That isn’t really a reflection of me so much as a reflection of those people, and as long as I can face myself in the mirror every day and know I’m a good person doing the best I can . . . shrug . . . That’s what’s important.
What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?
Write what you love and enjoy, not what you think will sell or what seems hot right now. If you love it, that will come out in your writing. And if you are just writing what you think others want to read, that will show too. Readers want the real deal; not fake stuff and they can tell the difference.
What else can we expect from you in the near future?
Book # 31 in my Argeneau series, Immortal Angel, comes out September 29th. This is about Ildaria and G.G. We first met G.G. in Marguerite’s story, Vampire Interrupted, and then again in Elspeth’s story Twice Bitten. Now it’s GG’s turn and the decision is his on whether to accept the rare gift fate has given him, a true life mate, or fight it like he has his family all these years. As for Ildaria, we met her in Vampires Like It Hot where she was one of Vasco’s most fearsome crew members. Having been on the run for so long, she has a talent for dealing with bad guys, and won’t hesitate to come to the aid of the defenseless. Unfortunately, this skill has also garnered her some unwanted attention forcing her to relocate to Toronto. Luckily there’s a job opportunity there and a potential life mate. Readers have been asking after G.G.’s story for a while so I’m happy to say it’s just around the corner!
And Book #9 in my Highland Brides series, Highland Treasure, will be coming out January 26th! This is Rory Buchanan’s story, another character readers have been asking after for quite some time. Rory is the second youngest Buchanan brother and a renowned healer. When he was younger he always had his nose in a book but as you can see by the cover, Rory is all grown up now. Also I think this story has the largest subset of secondary characters of any of my stories… an entire town! LOL
Book #32 in my Argeneau series, Meant To Be Immortal, is set to come out April 27th. This is about Mac and C.J., two new characters to the scene. Mac Argeneau is one of Katricia’s brothers. (Just to remind readers who Katricia is, she’s Teddy Brunswick’s life mate and lives with him in Port Henry with Elvi and the gang). Anyway, Mac has just moved to a small town not far from Port Henry. No one knows him there so it’s strange that arson would be the first thing to happen to his new home. And CJ is a no nonsense CSIS agent who’s there to investigate a list of complaints against a local officer. However, due to a shortage of manpower, CJ’s been asked to help out by looking into the local fire as a possible arson case and Mac quickly discovers he can’t read her.
What is/are your passions when you’re not writing? How do you make time for your non-writing hobbies/things you love?
Jeez, how long do you have? LOL. I usually try different projects between books, like learning to play piano and guitar, trying embroidery, etc. But, when there’s time, I like solving logic puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and lately I’ve been getting into the monthly boxed mysteries (The Deadbolt Mystery Society boxes have been good so far, but found the Finders Keepers boxes to be a bit boring.) Of course I love to read and enjoy discovering new authors and series. I enjoy video games but need to find some new ones. And I have a couple of Bouviers, a Bichonpoo, a Lab and German Shepherd, not to mention a hubby, that need love and attention too so life is pretty busy.
What are some of your writing-related hobbies, crafts, addictions?
I tend to read a LOT, especially when I’m gearing up to write the next book. And if I’m working on the next book in a series then I often will reread the books preceding it or those that had something to do with the characters I plan to write about.
What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?
LOL. My writing space tends to be in a perpetual state of organized clutter!
Before I begin writing I have a tendency to clean my office. Top to bottom it’s got to be spic and span clean! And then I reorganize all the items in and on my desk and the shelves around it. I also have my writing troll sitting somewhere beside me at all times and then I take all that nice neatness and completely wreck it while writing. By the time I’m done the space looks like a tornado hit it. There will be countless half empty coffee cups, my own books with sticky pad notes sticking out of them, plates with toast crumbs on them, and whatnot on my desk, plus crumpled up wads of paper, and a landslide of printed up manuscript pages with edits marked on them everywhere on the floor surrounding my chair. That’s where I throw them once I’ve entered the edits into the computer. It’s very satisfying. Another page done. Ping, it hits the floor. Of course, it’s less satisfying when I hit send on the computer to email it to my editor and then have to gather all those pages together again, but . . . oh well.
What is one thing that most people don’t realize about you?
Well I don’t tend to do radio, podcast or video interviews but it’s not because I don’t want to. This may come as a surprise but I can be painfully shy, which I guess goes hand in hand with being a writer. The mere thought of a live interview makes me nauseous. 😬
While you’re writing, do you prefer music, silence, other? Please elaborate!
The number one thing I need is to write somewhere where I won’t be interrupted by people, or dogs coming in and out, phone calls, deliveries, etc. Interruptions really do kill the flow and I’m often forced to start a new story altogether if I have too many interruptions.
Once I’m somewhere that’s interruption free, I tend to listen to music. All kinds. Pop, classic rock and even classical depending on the story and my mood.
Writers very often have furry or feathered or otherwise non-human companions to “help” them through their work. Do you? What do you have? How do they “help” (or, “not-help”) with your writing?
I have five dogs who I love to bits! However, they do not help me with my writing process. The opposite actually because they interrupt me so often if I try to write with them around. Hence why I tend to isolate myself when I’m on deadline. . . Hmmm. . . although, I suppose they do help in a way. I mean, almost every one of my dogs has featured in a book, just under a different name, and sometimes with a different breed type. But, honestly, dogs can do the funniest darned things and so their antics get into my stories.
Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that must be in the vicinity (or must be avoided) while you’re writing or editing a piece of work?
Ice water, coffee, diet coke, and something easy I can heat up as a meal so I can get back to it or I just won’t bother with food. In fact, I used to forget to eat. I’d get so stuck in the stories that when I stopped I’d think, “Oh darn, did I eat today?” The longest I’ve written without stopping is 37 hours. Unfortunately, that kind of thing is NOT good for your health and the doc and family members got on me for it, so for a while I had to wear a watch that would remind me to eat at meal times. It died a while back, but not until after I got into the habit of eating at meal times.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer all these questions for us, Lynsay! I promise I won’t ask you for a Zoom interview…
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