The Bookstore
March 2005 Featured Author Interview with Sabrina Jeffries
The Bookstore Welcomes Sabrina Jeffries!
Sabrina, welcome to The Bookstore! Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.
Tell us about yourself. Your family, jobs, background, etc.
I was born in New Orleans, raised in Thailand, then went to college and graduate school in the U.S. I've been reading romances since I was 9 years old, when I ready my first Cherry Ames and Grace Livingston Hill books. I have a Ph.D. in English with a speciality in Modern British Literature from Tulane University. My past jobs include everything from day care director to technical writer. My first book was published thirteen years ago, believe it or not. I've been married for twenty years to a wonderful librarian who works at a company that provides a major database to librarians. I have an adorable teenaged son who's severely autistic and who keeps me grounded. The three of us live in North Carolina, where we moved 7 years ago from New Orleans.
You said you lived in Thailand as a child while your parents served as missionaries there. Was it hard for you to adapt to such a drastic lifestyle change? How long did you live there? Have you lived any other exotic places?
I went to Thailand when I was seven. It was hard at first, because I missed my grandparents and other family and Thai culture is VASTLY different from ours, but over time, I grew to love it. I lived there for about nine years, and I still visit when I can. I miss it a lot, especially the food! Although I've visited several other countries, aside from New Orleans (which can be a world unto itself around Mardi Gras time, or any other time for that matter), I haven't lived in any other "exotic" places.
Do you think your travels have influenced your outlook on life and your writing career? If so, how?
It opened my mind a great deal. Different foods, different cultures, different ideas are always good for any writer. Also, because we were isolated in the country and I had no other American kids to play with (and my Thai friends spoke little English while I spoke little Thai), I spent a lot more time reading than I might have normally. I'd always been an avid reader, but out in the country, I spent hours and hours reading and making up stories. So I think being out there alone really helped spark my creative bent. I made up stories all the time. There was nothing else to do.
I believe you have written under three different names and several different publishers over the years. Could you tell us what these names are and what kind of books you wrote under each one?
Before this, I wrote historical romances as Deborah Martin that were denser and less humorous than my Sabrina Jefferies books. I also wrote contemporary paranormal romantic suspense novels as Deborah Nicholas. The one thing all three styles have in common, however, is plenty of sexual tension and alpha heroes. I do love a good alpha hero.
Did you always want to be a romance writer and how did you get started?
Believe it or not, when I was twelve I told myself that when I grew up, I would write down my romantic fantasies and sell them to people. Apparently, I had an unrealized prophetic tendency. *G*
I read romances from childhood on, but although I wrote a very bad children's book in college and lots of bad poetry and some okay short stories, I didn't get around to writing romances until much later. Then while I was a visiting assistant professor of English at Tulane University, I sat down to develop a publishable academic work and found it to be so boring I started writing a novel instead. Once I realized I was writing a romance novel, I was on my way. That book didn't sell, but the next one did and I've been writing romances ever since.
How many books do you have published now? You books seem to be written as a series of connected books. Will you always write like this or will you ever write a book that stands alone?
I have 21 published novels, three published novellas, and a published short story. If a book comes to me that I feel has to stand alone, I will do that. It really depends on what the characters are saying to me at the time! But I do love series books. I always have. So it'll probably be series for a while.
How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
About six months.
Your writing has changed quite a bit since you started writing as Deborah Martin. Can you explain the differences in your style now as compared to when you were first published? How has this affected the characters in your books?
Oh, my work has definitely improved over the years. I used to focus so much on having an original plot and setting. More and more, I've come to believe that the uniqueness has to be in the characters and in the playing out of the story, rather than the plot itself. Readers get just as much (if not More) satisfaction from classic plots. What makes books memorable is the author's take on that classic plot and the characters who act it out.
You are most famous for your work as Sabrina Jeffries. Please tell us about the type of books you write under this name.
My Sabrina Jeffries books are Regency-set historical romances. I strive to include both wit and deep emotion in them...and a lot of hot sex. *G*
You have a new release coming out this month-TO PLEASURE A PRINCE. Please tell us a bit about this book. Is it a historical romance and is it related to any of your other previously published books?
It's the second story in my Royal Brotherhood series about three half brothers who are fictional bastards of the Prince of Wales. Bound together by the royal father who denied them, they've formed a pact to help each other achieve their every desire...including the women of their dreams. This books is about the second, very beefy curmudgeon of a half-brother (Lord Draker) who agrees to let a duke court his half-sister if the duke's sister, Lady Regina Tremaine, will let him court her. Lady Regina is considered the creme de la creme of society, so they have quite a time of it when Draker, who's been an outcast for years, is suddenly thrust into society with her on his arm.
TO PLEASURE A PRINCE is a delight to read. I love that the two main characters, Regina and Marcus (Draker) have such strong and stubborn personalities and show so much loyalty toward their families. They both seem to have a vulnerable yet compassionate streak that shows itself in their interactions with others. The fact that they are both "flawed" in some way makes the book much more enjoyable and believable.
Is it hard to write a story with such strong a stubborn characters? Do they let you develop and shape them the way you want or do they just grow and change into their own person?
It's hard to write ANY story-rewarding but hard. *G* As for how they develop, it's sort of a mutual thing. I do have an idea of what they're like when I start, but as the book evolves, they DO step in and take on a life of their own. Sometimes you have to slap them down, but most of the time it's best to let them lead, since I truly think it's a case of your subconscious asserting itself to tell you what you should really be doing and with them when your conscious mind is trying to lay things out in straight lines too much. If that makes any sense.
Are your characters reflective of people you would like to know in your own life?
Not really, They're more idealized representations of what I think people have the potential to be. Or, in the case of the three heroes of this series, they partly represent three of the many sides of my husband-the smart-aleck (Iversley), the curmudgeon (Draker), and the cynic (Byrne). Come to think of it, my husband shows up a LOT in my books. *G*
You have a complex cast if characters in your books. How do you keep all of your characters traits and facts straight?
I use a series of tables to keep track of their appearance, relations, personal tics, etc. I also have a timeline for each series.
Are any of your characters based on real people or events in your own life?
Well, excluding all the heroes I pseudo-base on my husband (and some villains I've based in the past on the boyfriends who dumped me *G*), few of the characters or plots are based on real people and events from my own life.
Other people's lives, however, are another matter. *G* You wouldn't believe the stories I've concocted because of something I read in a historical account. The premise for Pirate Lord was based on a real-life abduction by privateers, the premise for Forbidden Lord was based on a story I read about in a quote book, and even the book I'm currently writing took a detour when I discovered stuff about prisoners of war during the War of 1812.
But I've never actually written a story based wholly on real life, and certainly not my own--usually I read some throwaway comment or see an exhibit at a museum or hear some line of dialogue and that sparks the whole thing.
Do you have a favorite hero or heroine or a particular books that stands out for you?
I hate this question, because I never know how to answer. That's like asking a parent of four which of her children is her favorite. I like different books for different things, and I'm always most fond of my most recent book, which means that the answer changes with each book. Right now, my favorite is Bryne's because that's the one I just finished writing- ONE NIGHT WITH A PRINCE. It comes out in July.
Do you do your own research?
Yes I do my own.
Give us an idea how much research you do when writing a book. Is most of your research done through books?
I've accumulated a lot of research books already, but for the book-specific research, I use the Internet and libraries. I'm lucky that I live in an area with several major libraries, so I can always find what I need at ONE of them. I usually don't do much research in the beginning-just enough to confirm that my plot will work in the period. But once I start writing, I have to research individual ideals, so that takes me lots of different places. My website has a page for each of my books that discusses the research for it, in case the readers are interested.
You web site www.sabrinajeffries.com is a wonderful source for learning about your books and the intricacies of a writing career. Do you think the internet has made a large impact on your readers ability to learn more about their favorite authors and introduce them to new ones? How about the ability to promote and spread the word of a new book coming out? Is it easier or harder to promote a book online?
The Internet has been phenomenal for books and authors. I think every author should put as much energy into having a good website as possible. It's definitely easier to promote a book online than through the old fashioned methods, although I still use both.
Along with your full time writing career, being a wife and mom of a special son named Nick, you still find time to chat with your fans and answer email. Do you try to maintain some sort of writing schedule, or is it squeezed in between other things in your busy life?
I try to write at least 5 hours a day on weekdays (sometimes more). I go to a coffeehouse to write, usually in the afternoon and early evening when my husband is at work (he has late hours) and my son is at school and then with his caregiver. I'm not really a morning person, so that's better for me. But when I'm there, I only write (or maybe chat a little). Going to a coffeehouse keeps my life from intruding most of the time. Sometimes, however, you can't avoid life intruding, and when that happens, I do have to squeeze writing in. I'm doing this at 1 in the morning, actually, which is when I do an amazing amount of my business-related stuff. *G* See, I told you I'm not a morning person!
Can you tell us a bit about Nick? I understand that he is autistic. Tell us a bit about this illness and how it has changed your life and how you cope with it. How can our readers learn more about autism?
Nick is my sweetie. And yes, he autistic. Autism is a neurological disorder that affects development in the areas of social interaction, sensory perception, and communication (any kind of cummunication, not just language). It may also involve self-injurous or aggressive behavior (hitting, kicking, biting, head-banging and swallowing of non-food objects like chemicals or legos) and often includes some level of obsessive/compulsive behavior (lining objects up; compulsively closing all doors, drawers, toilet lids, open containers, etc.; turning off appliances-the number of permutations is endless) and repetitive actions (rocking or hand flapping). Autism is a spectrum disorder-individuals are disabled to varying degrees. Nick's autism is pretty severe-he's virtually nonverbal, he doesn't bathe himself, and he has to have constant supervision.
We went through trial by fire with him a few years ago (puberty is awful for everyone, but especially for autistic children), but I feel we came out stronger. The one thing it has really done for me is to change my whole outlook on disability and eccentricity in general. I'm much more tolerant these days, and I truly don't understand why we can't just accept the great diversity of people out there and enjoy them for what they are. Nick is such an angel now and he takes joy from the smallest things (me singing "Puff, the Magic Dragon," for example). He can't talk and he has a million little obsessions and eccentricies, but when he's smiling, all of that goes away. It's humbling, and it reminds me daily to stop and smell the flowers.
If you want to learn more about autism, just go to the "About me" section on my website. At the bottom is info and a link to my page on autism, which also contains links.
If you are ever in KY we would love for you to come by the store for a booksigning.
I'll be sure to remember that!
Sabrina, thanks again for joining us at The Bookstore! Please come back again soon!
Come in to The Bookstore and get your autographed copy of TO PLEASURE A PRINCE plus all the new March releases arriving daily!
Remember you can learn more about Sabrina Jeffries on her website at www.sabrinajeffries.com
