CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS with the Naughty Ninjas: Sandra Antonelli

What is your background with regard to writing?
There’s the author side and the scholar side of my background. I was a preschool teacher and an English teacher. I’ve written since grade 7, but I only sat down to write a novel in the noughties, while doing a MA in creative writing (romance), which I followed up with my PhD in creative writing romance fiction.

When did you first begin writing with a view of embarking on a career as a published author?
About 10 years ago. I wrote a big fat, giant slab of a book, like a 600+ page doorstop, and showed it to two people who were published authors. One, I’d known since I was 13, the other was the godson of my husband’s aunt. Neither one of these award-winning authors laughed or told me how horrible my book was. They encouraged me and gave me direction instead. The second writer asked his agent to have a look at it. The agent was very, very kind and old me I had a great voice. That book will never see the light of day.

What is your writing routine?
I use business office as my office. Usually I write from about 9:30 to 12:00 and then make lunch for my husband. He sees clients and has little time to feed himself. I have lunch with him and leave the office at 1. I rarely write at home.

Favourite snack whilst writing?
Coffee.

If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
Cleaning and cooking like an Italian Mama. Cleaning was my hobby before I took up writing.

What do you find easiest to write?
Dialogue.

And, the hardest?
Physical fight scenes.

Tell us about the first book you wrote:
It was about three friends, unrequited love, suicide, and a ghost. I didn’t know when to stop writing, so it is over 600 pages. I’d say it’s TV series material, but no one will ever see it—beyond that agent and the two writers I already mentioned. There are times I think I could salvage it. But then I pick it up and read it and oh, the pain….the horror.  I think I may one day scavenge bits and pieces from it. I still like the premise.

One thing you’d like readers to know about the romance genre…
Romance is genre fiction at its best. You want Sci Fi, Westerns, mystery and suspense, crime, fantasy, comedy, the choice is so wide and no other type of fiction combines multiple elements from other genres like romance. There is something for everyone, from sweet, to gritty, to over the top, with every level of sensuality you could imagine; the door can be closed or wide open with. You want it? Romance has got it.

Ten quickies:

Milk or dark chocolate? Dark. Always dark.

Red, white, bubbly? Coffee.

Salty or sweet? Coffee.

Beach or mountains? Mountains—the Sangre De Cristos and the Jemez.

Give or receive? Give, especially coffee.

Facebook or Twitter? Twitter.

Romance or erotica (for reading and/or writing)? Romance

Dog or cat? Budman the dog, but I like kitties…

Summer or winter? Summer.

Star-gazing or storm-watching? Stargazing in the mountains.

Find Sandra online:
Website
Blog
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