I’m delighted to welcome Award Winning Author SANDRA OWENS to Rakes and Rascals today for an exclusive interview.
Carol, it is an honor to be here. I’ve followed Rakes and Rascals from the beginning, and have read many wonderful books simply because you recommended them.
R&R:
Could you tell us where you were born and what it was like growing up there?
Sandra:
I was born in Lakeland, Florida, the oldest of five kids. We lived in Pensacola until I was in sixth grade, then we moved to Miami, where I attended high school. As the oldest, I had a lot more restrictions on me than my siblings did as they grew. I think we wore my parents out until it was easier for them to give in to the younger ones when they wanted to do something. I used to think that was so unfair. They in turn think it’s not fair that there are way more pictures of me in the family album than there are of them. Apparently our parents got tired of taking pictures, and with each kid there are fewer photos. We have no idea what the baby of the family looked like as a child. 🙂
One of the numerous pictures of me
R&R:
How would you describe yourself – temperamental or easy-going?
Sandra:
I’m a very easy-going introvert. I can spend days by myself, and when I’m with a group of people I don’t know, I get very quiet. I think that’s one reason I love writing. I can lose myself in my stories and forget that there’s a real world outside my window. I rarely get angry, and if I do, it doesn’t last. Interestingly enough, I have very low blood pressure to the point that doctors have asked if I’ve ever felt faint. The answer is no, I haven’t, but I think that’s one reason I’m always so calm.
R&R:
When it comes to food do you like sweet or savoury or both?
Sandra:
Savoury for sure. I rarely eat cake, pie, cookies, ice cream, or candy. Those things just don’t appeal to me…well, except for dark chocolate, especially the kind with chilli pepper flakes in it. That’s my weakness. This is going to sound weird, but my favourite snack is a little bowl of diced celery and a slice of cheddar cheese.
R&R:
What is your most treasured possession?
Sandra:
Aside from my Kindle full of books, I’d have to say a wooden horse that belonged to my mother, who we lost several years ago. It has no monetary value, but whenever I look at it, I think of her.
My mother’s treasured wooden horse
R&R:
If you were able to afford a second home anywhere in the world where would you choose and why?
Sandra:
Since I live in the mountains, which I love, I’d say a beach house on the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida. That would be the best of both worlds. I love the beach and feel completely at peace when I’m there. I picked the Florida panhandle location because the beaches are so beautiful there – sugary white sand and emerald green water.
R&R:
Finally, what has been your most embarrassing moment?
Sandra:
Oh my. That happened recently when I was in New York City for the RWA National Conference. I was a 2013 Golden Heart® finalist, and every year my Golden Heart® sisters and I get together for lunch when we’re at the conference. This year, we were at a restaurant that had tall windows and they were open. My intention was to go around the end of the table to get to my seat, but I somehow tripped and fell right out the window. Thankfully it was a ground floor restaurant. So there I go, tumbling out onto the sidewalk, landing on my bottom at the feet of two businessmen who probably thought I’d fallen right out of the sky. Instead of allowing them to gracefully help me to my feet, I was so mortified that I crab-crawled right back into the restaurant through the window. I’m pretty sure I’m the only author out of 2,000 there that week who can boast of falling out of a restaurant window. Of course hours later I thought of the perfect thing to say to the men…”Do women always fall at your feet?”
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Thank you for taking time out to be here today, Sandra, and sharing these interesting facts about yourself.
This was fun…well, except for talking about my most embarrassing moment. LOL! Can’t believe you got me to do that! Thank you so much, Carol, for inviting me to Rakes and Rascals today. I had a great time!
If you would like to find out more about Sandra and her books, here are the links:
And I still can’t believe you got me to admit to falling out of a New York City window, Carol. 🙂 Enjoyed visiting with you! Thank for the invite.
It’s a pleasure to have you visit the blog, Sandra. I think your embarassing moment has the number 1 spot for the funniest so far!!
Sandra, I remember hearing about your embarassing moment. 🙂 Loved seeing your mom’s wooden horse. So lovely that you have it to remember her by. Best wishes on continued success with your books.
LOL I guess it’s funny now. Wasn’t so much then. As for my wooden horse, sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring us the most pleasure, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Angelina.
I really love reading about you here on R&R, Sandra. I love the Carols’ Newsletters. Great guests and tips, etc. It’s nice to read about the things I didn’t know about you yet. But I still remember your window story (sorry)…
Hi Hanny. I really love talking to you here on R&R. It was so nice of Carol to ask to interview me. I’m trying to think of there’s anything else you don’t know about me. 😉
Oh my goodness- I LOVED this interview!! The questions were perfect and the answers hilarious. I love the Florida panhandle as well and I also have blood pressure so low the doctors question how I am still alive. 🙂 And the part about thinking of the perfect thing to say to the men hours later– LOL! Love Sandra’s books and can’t wait to read the newest.
Sweet, I have a low blood pressure sister. LOL One advantage is that few things get me riled up. Thanks so much for stopping by, Amy.
Loved the interview, Sandy. Wish I had made it to conference this year. Hopefully next. 🙂
You were sure missed, Dawn. Definitely hope to see you in San Diego!
Sandra –
So nice to learn more about you! And I was with you at the restaurant and did not see ‘your embarrassing moment’. I think it might be the start of a new book!
AE
Ha ha, AE, that’s an interesting idea. I can so see my heroine falling at my hero’s feet. Thanks for dropping in.
I met Sandra in NYC & mentioned your name, Carol! So sorry about the embarrassing moment, Sandra! That was truly a unique situation. Glad you didn’t get hurt!
Carol, she did mention your name. See how famous you are! 🙂 I’m also glad no more than my pride was hurt, Sharlene. 🙂
Infamous more like, after my “exposure” on FB by my friend? Wendy!!!!
Oh my darling Sandy, what a phenomenal interview! You are one cool cucumber (with the BP to prove it) even when falling from windows! I swear, one moment, you were telling me you’d never seen anyone order a crepes with French fries (that’s right, *I* did that) and the next, you disappeared! So relieved it was an HEA. 😉
❤
Darcy
I think it was how startled I was by the combination of crepes with French fries that did it….LOL Thanks, Darcy, for stopping by.
Oh Sandra, as someone who was sitting next to you when it happened I have to say that you were so self-possessed and graceful about the entire incident that I’m kinda envious that it was your most embarrassing moment ever. And I’m so glad that you didn’t get hurt.
Many hugs,
Hi Sonali. Thanks so much for stopping by. Now you have me curious as to your most embarrassing moment. Confess…. 🙂
Sandra, after being your Golden Heart sister and seeing you at conferences, it’s always wonderful to get to know you even better via a wonderful blog like this one. Cute pictures! Sorry to have missed NYC…and your falling from the sky moment 🙂
This is a fabulous blog site, Jacqui. You were sorely missed in NYC, and I’m really hoping I’ll get to see you again in San Diego!
Jacqui, so glad you like the blog. 🙂
Sandy, I am so sorry I missed that lunch! Fun interview. What high school did you go to? (I went to Coral Gables High.)
I wish you’d been there with us, too, Kay. We had a great time, even with the window “incident”. I went to Palmetto High. Did you go to high school in Miami?
Sandra – Great interview! I’m sure you’ve been told that wine is good for low blood pressure. 😀
LOL LOL Gail. I might have heard that somewhere. I’ll have to give it a try….
Great interview, Sandy…and I feel privileged to have been there at your–ahem–“restaurant incident”! We’ll have to seat you away from the window next year! For the pedestrians sake, of course 🙂
Hi Miranda. Thanks so much for stopping by. Yes, please, keep me away from the windows. Thank God it was a first floor window, right?
Oh, and to think I could have been a witness to your ” fall from grace” !! I’m even more disappointed I missed the luncheon! Great interview, Sandra and I love the photo of you as a little girl! Soooo cute! You haven’t changed a bit!
LOL, Chris, I think there are a few wrinkles since that pic was taken. I’m laughing at “fall from grace”. I’ll have to borrow that. Thanks for stopping by all the way from Down Under.