Southern Writers Magazine Southern Writers May 2018 | Page 8

Sandra Orchard
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Around Every Corner
by Annette Cole Mastron
S
andra Orchard has an unnerving ability to mastermind
crimes. She also has a crazy propensity for imagining a
mystery around every corner. “Of course, I’m careful;
I share those thoughts only with fellow writers who happen
to be in the vicinity at the time, my trusty notebook, or
with my readers via FB. I love brainstorming plots with
other writers—my own or theirs. I live my “author life”
mainly online.
“I love interacting with readers on Facebook, blogs, and
via email. I’ve always felt more comfortable writing out my
thoughts than talking about them, so this suits me well. That
said, I also love teaching writing workshops and speaking
at events. It doesn’t faze me in the least to talk in front of
groups or lead group discussions.
“My author self is probably a tad more adventurous too,
in that I’ll fly by myself all around the US to research a locale
or to attend conferences and not blink an eye at sharing a
room with a fellow writer I’ve never met.”
Rural Niagara, Canada is home to Sandra. “The
peaceful setting is a wonderful backdrop for writing and
getting out into nature when my mind needs to mull
over plot ideas. It’s also close to a variety of resources and
experts I can tap for research help. When I am on deadline
or on a writing roll, my hubby is super-understanding
and makes us breakfast or lunch, and offers to order
supper in or be fine with quick and simple meals for days
8    Southern Writers
in a row. My youngest daughter is a writer and great
for commiserating with and bouncing around ideas.
My grandchildren are more than happy to entertain and
inspire me when I need a break.”
First contract was, “With Harlequin’s Love Inspired
Suspense which began in September 2010. I persevered—
writing and rewriting the next novel and the next, taking
lots of courses and workshops, paying for critiques, and
entering contests. Then soon after winning the Daphne
DuMaurier Award, I had the opportunity to meet with
the new Love Inspired Suspense editor at the ACFW
conference. I asked if she’d consider my winning story,
even though a previous editor had rejected an earlier
version. She did.
“She liked my writing, but told me exactly why that
particular plot didn’t work for the line. I applied what I
learned to my next otherwise ready-to-submit novel and
sent it in and she contracted it—Deep Cover. The timing
was perfect. I received news of the contract on my youngest
daughter’s first day of college, which meant I had a lot more
time available to do all the extra marketing-related things that
go along with being published.”
A typical day in Sandra’s writing life includes, “Write,
brainstorm, edit, outline, or…procrastinate all of the
above, at every opportunity. After my morning exercise/
devotions/breakfast routine, I break only for meals and
an afternoon or early evening walk and then continue to
write or edit until bedtime. But I am very good at planning
play dates with my young grandchildren, volunteering to
babysit them, or passing long winter evenings by knitting
or sewing fun costumes for them, which of course isn’t
procrastinating at all.”
For Sandra, “Probably the most difficult aspect of
writing is developing characters.” Talking about and
analyzing feelings and their roots is not something that
comes naturally to me—thanks to my British roots
perhaps. Plotting is the easiest for me because I have
a mathematical-logical mind and love brainstorming
rabbit trails and red herrings that keep readers guessing.