Spotlight on Sandra D. Bricker and Always the Baker, Never the Bride

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SANDRA D. BRICKER has been publishing in both the Christian and general market for years with novels for women and teens, magazine articles and short stories. With 11 novels in print and 5 more slated for publication through 2012, Sandie has carved out a niche for herself as an award-winning author of laugh-out-loud comedy for the inspirational market. Sandie was an entertainment publicist in Hollywood for 15+ years for some of daytime television’s hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she left Los Angeles to provide care … and begin her writing career!



Always the Baker, Never the Bride
by Sandra D. Bricker
Published by Abingdon Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

They say you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. But who would want a cake they couldn’t eat?

Just ask Emma Rae Travis about that. A baker of confections who is diabetic and can’t enjoy them? When Emma meets Jackson Drake, the escapee from Corporate America who is starting a wedding destination hotel to fulfill a dream that belonged to someone else, this twosome and their crazy family ties bring new meaning to the term Family Circus. The Atlanta social scene will never be the same!

Readers, buy your copy of Always the Baker, Never the Bride today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

First and foremost, my love of all things cake! Like Emma Rae, I am also a diabetic, so me and cake together ... not so much. I've learned all kinds of ways to incorporate it into my life at safe intervals, but it can be quite a challenge. I can live without many things in life, but I'd almost rather have cake than anything else. But isn't that always the way? We desperately want the things we can't have, like cake. And George Clooney.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

There’s a whole lot of me in Emma Rae. Not just the diabetic part, but the certain characteristics she has, the way she approaches the idea of love, the importance of her relationships. And Emma has a deep-down dream that she’s pursuing, a lot like me and my writing. Also, the crazy family situations for both Emma and Jackson are inspired out of my wish that I had that. I come from a really large extended family (my mom was the youngest of eight), but we moved away from them when I was very young so there aren’t the solid connections that my characters have with their families.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Oh, no Rocky Road here. Emma and Jackson would both be a very upstanding flavor with a little nutty crunch to them. Maybe butter pecan or vanilla almond. Emma has a penchant for hazelnut, so maybe that would be good. Is there such a thing as hazelnut ice cream?

4. Are there any themes in Always the Baker, Never the Bride that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Well, the overall theme of the book, and one that is present in a lot of my work, is that thread of destiny. I’ve always been fascinated by the way our lives are road-mapped for us by God, and then He tosses in the road signs all along the way. We either follow them, or we detour off on our own, but we seem to always come full circle to His plan. There are certain situations and people that come into our lives out of a divine destiny; but there are also the ones that act as propellants to get us where we’re going. And then there are the speed bumps we encounter as well.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I can truthfully tell you that there was not a difficult thing about writing Baker! It was the most delightful writing experience I’ve ever had. I adored the characters, the storyline just cruised along, the words flowed … and, added bonus, there was cake! Not every book goes along like this one did, but Emma was a total joy to spend time with every day.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Just as this one comes out, I also have Love Finds You in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, coming up in a month or so. That one was fun because I got to incorporate another true love of mine into the story, my adoration for classic film. Then I have a devotional coming out in the spring that I’ve co-authored with Kristin Billerbeck, Debby Mayne, Trish Perry and Diann Hunt. It’s called Delight Yourself in the Lord…Even on Bad Hair Days, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Beyond that, I have two follow-up books to this year’s The Big 5-OH! that I’m working on now, The Big 4-OH! and The Big 3-OH! Since the characters from the first book come back, it’s like a great reunion where I get to spend time with old friends while weaving a whole new world for the other two.

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Thank you, Sandie, for being in the spotlight with us.

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Always the Baker, Never the Bride. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: Emma’s passion is designing and creating wedding cakes. What’s your life’s passion?

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