A reader came knocking on my country manor door!

Sandra Donadel loves reading Rural Romance books and I’ve written one. 
(The House on Burra Burra Lane - released today!) What’s not to talk about?

Avid reader, lover of sensational stories - what sort of book makes Sandra sizzle?  The smouldering type, the smoochy type or the suspenseful type? Let’s  find out. 

 

 Take it away, Sandra:

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Will you tell us a little about yourself?

Hi everyone, my name is Sandra and I am a single mum to Brendan - a 14 year old boy (going on 25). I was born and raised in the small town of Ingham just north of Townsville. I have lived in Townsville now for 18 years and have worked in the same supermarket for 18 years.

A home-grown gal - no wonder she loves reading Rural Romance.

My hobbies include gardening, meeting up with my many friends when time permits, and of course reading. I love hearing good jokes and I am a bit of a prankster on my dear friends which my son has inherited from me. (Oh-oh! Bet he doesn’t read Rural Romance books though.)

My passions in life are raising my son the best I can, staying positive, and reading.

What can I say? Beautiful and worthy passions, Sandra, and ones I think we all look for and hope to attain.

Do you choose books where the topic might relate to your family or lifestyle - or do you choose a story you can thoroughly escape with?

I have always loved reading. For quite some time I was reading mainly true Australian crime stories. It was while McLeod’s Daughters was screening on television that I became interested in the outback. The first ever Rural Romance book I read was by Rachael Treasure. I was well and truly hooked then. I used to scour second hand book stores looking for similar outback books. Now I have so many favourite rural authors I am in my element.

By the end of the book, can you remember the title?

I can certainly remember the title of the book by the end. I might take a little while to read the whole book but I never forget. Only recently I was reading Fluer McDonald’s latest release and I read a passage where she was describing a scene and had used the titles of her two previous books which I thought was very clever. (Wow, that is clever.)

Do you stick to your favourite author’s books, or are you happy to branch out and read another author’s book?

I mainly stick to my favourite authors Karly Lane, Margareta Osborn, Rachael Johns, Rachael Treasure, Fluer McDonald, Fiona Palmer, Fiona McCallum, Cathryn Hein - just to name a few, but I have branched out in the last couple of months and bought Charlotte Nash’s Ryders Ridge (thoroughly enjoyed it) and Therese Creed’s Redstone Station (yet to read).

Just by reading the back of the book I can get the feel if I am going to like it.

Me too. You know what, Sandra? We work long and hard on those back cover blurbs, so it’s wonderful to know they truly portray the stories we have written, for the readers we are writing for.

If you could tell authors one thing you’d like to see more of, or learn more about on their web pages and blogs - what would it be?

♥ I would ask where they get their inspirations from when they commence writing their books.

♥ How it feels when they have finally finished.

♥ And do some of the books contain experiences from their own life or that of family and friends.

Sandra, I know lots of readers would like to leave comments on authors’ blog posts but often don’t because they’re either too shy or don’t think they should. But writers do want to hear from their readers, so here’s your last question:

Now that you’ve been interviewed on my blog will you feel more comfortable leaving comments on other authors’ blogs?

Definitely!!!! (Hurray!) I love the Rural Romance Readers and Writers Facebook page as I can let authors know how much I have enjoyed their books. I think that they have spent so much time writing the books that to hear such positive feedback from their loyal readers would make them feel grateful and make them eager to write more.

Which means you’d have more to read, Sandra, and less time to play pranks on your friends!

Thank you Jennie for inviting me to do this blog and a big congratulations on the release of your book "The House on Burra Burra Lane”.

Sandra, you’re the one to be thanked - for visiting my fictional country manor blog and giving us writers some insight to how our readers feel whilst browsing for books and reading our books.

You’ve shown enormous enthusiasm and encouragement to all Rural Romance authors on Facebook, so on their behalf, I thank you.

We write because we want to tell a story, and with the likes of Sandra supporting us, not only with good wishes but with genuine interest, I think we’re getting something right.

We love our readers!

Reader or writer, feel free to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.

Jennie & Sandra

Where can you find more Rural Romance authors on Facebook?

Facebook Rural Romance Readers & Writers group

Facebook Books for Country Girls & Guys

Where can you buy The House on Burra Burra Lane?
Right here:
http://www.escapepublishing.com.au/product/9780857990532