Readers -- today I am blessed to have Sandra Byrd here on Austenitis! She's coming to talk about her newest book, Secret Keeper. Make sure you read my review from earlier today!
Welcome, Sandra! I’m
so glad to be talking with you about your book, The Secret Keeper. Could you please give us a little
auto-biography?
Here it is, from my website!
After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen,
bestselling author Sandra Byrd persevered to publish more than three dozen
books. Her adult fiction debut, Let Them
Eat Cake, was a finalist for the Christy Award, as was To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was listed by Library Journal as one of the best books
of 2011. Sandra's YA fiction has also been recognized within the industry. Asking for Trouble, the first in the
London Confidential series, was a finalist for the ECPA Medallion of Excellence
award.
A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra is also a
non-fiction writer and author, with articles in numerous publications and
periodicals. Sandra is also passionate about helping new writers develop their
talent and their work toward traditional or self publication. As such, she has
mentored hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each
year.
Sandra resides in Washington State with her husband Michael,
a chaplain, their two children, and a circus dog named Brie.
Please tell us a
little bit about the plot of The Secret
Keeper.
Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight.
Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father's business partner,
circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last
wife, Kateryn Parr.
Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince
Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his concerns with Juliana's father's
estate and sees instantly that Juliana would fit into the household of the woman
he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in Parr's household
for "finishing" and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly.
For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of
prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress
of the king's daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.
As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII's court,
she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will
undo everything she holds dear.
Such a great book.
Now, I’m curious…why did you skip from Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII’s second
wife (on whom To Die For was
focused), to Kateryn Parr, the sixth wife?
Jane Seymour had a very short life after her marriage, there
wasn't enough to interest me, personally, in writing her story. Anne of Cleves
has had little written about her but she was not in the Tudor Court for very
long, so the book would have been focused well away from the
"action." Katherine Howard was a very young woman when she caught
Henry's eye. I find her situation to be sympathetic, but she hadn't lived long
enough by the time she was beheaded to provide the kind of historical tapestry
I wanted.
Then again, Anne, Kateryn, and Elizabeth are my personal
favorites. I spend a long time with these ladies, researching and writing, so I
needed to make sure I wanted to be in their company for years!
Is it hard to write
while sticking to the historical facts?
No, I find it a thrilling challenge to be able to craft a
fictional story around well known facts. It makes me feel like, "This
really could have happened this way!" I hope it makes my readers feel that
way, too.
What was your
favorite part of Secret Keeper to
write?
The ending. I write about life as it really is, and that
includes some painful parts, both to live and to read. But I'll always Happily
Ever After endings in every book.
Is there any special
story about the cover?
We wanted to put a garden on the cover because the Tudors
were rightly proud of their lovely gardens, and there aren't very many Tudor
book covers with them on it. Also, Sudeley Castle, which is where Kateryn Parr
gave birth to her daughter, and which is the home most often associated with
her, is well known for its lovely gardens.
How long did it take
you to write Secret Keeper?
It takes me about a year to write each of my books,
including the research.
I saw you have a
title for the next book in the Ladies in Waiting series, Roses Have Thorns. And another amazing cover! Would you like to tell us a bit about the book?
Here's the publisher's blurb:
Sandra Byrd has attracted countless fans for evoking the
complexity, grandeur, and brutality of the Tudor period. In her latest tour de
force, she poses the question: What happens when serving a queen may cost you
your marriage—or your life?
In 1565, seventeen-year-old Elin von Snakenborg leaves
Sweden on a treacherous journey to England. Her fiancé has fallen in love with
her sister and her dowry money has been gambled away, but ahead of her lies an
adventure that will take her to the dizzying heights of Tudor power.
Transformed through marriage into Helena, the Marchioness of Northampton, she becomes
the highest-ranking woman in Elizabeth’s circle. But in a court that is
surrounded by Catholic enemies who plot the queen’s downfall, Helena is forced
to choose between her unyielding monarch and the husband she’s not sure she can
trust—a choice that will provoke catastrophic consequences.
Vividly conjuring the years leading up to the beheading of
Mary Queen of Scots, Roses Have Thorns
is a brilliant exploration of treason, both to the realm and to the heart.
Your biggest fan and
supporter is...
My husband, for sure. I couldn't write without him. He does
everything from encourage and admonish to hand translate entire books from
Swedish to English for me. What a man!
What is your favorite
time period to read about? How about to write about?
I love to read about almost anything, but I prefer history
and ethnographies to almost all other reading. Historical England is my
favorite setting for reading and writing, but I also love Japan and India.
What is one thing you
dread doing?
Getting reviews. :) Even when they're good, there's a
certain amount of anxiety attached. And when they are less-than-favorable, I
learn something, but it always stings a little.
I can definitely see
how that’d be something to dread! If you could visit any country, continent, or
place, where would you go and why?
England is my favorite place to visit, followed by France. I
have not yet been to India, but I would love to visit.
Which of your book
covers is your favorite?
Oh, I love each of the covers in this series, the Artistic
Director is really gifted. He conveys both the period and emotions so well.
I agree! These covers
are amazing. Thanks so much for coming, Sandra! How can our readers learn more
about you, or contact you?
Thank you so much for having me; I love to visit your blog.
I also love to hear from readers! Please visit my website at
www.sandrabyrd.com; poke around the Tudor Hall for a bit and then send an email
to me and let me know what you think!
