Have any of your books been made into movies? Where can I find them?
Why aren’t more of your books made into movies?
Are any of your books a series or sequential? Will you be writing more sequels?
Do you plan to write a sequel to Sunset Embrace and Another Dawn? Will you rewrite the ending of Another Dawn?
Where do you get your ideas?
Do you accept story ideas from other people?
Do you read and critique unpublished manuscripts?
Are your characters based either on people you know or celebrities?
Are your stories/characters based on your own experiences?
How did you get started?
How do I get an agent?
How do I go about selling the manuscript I’ve written?
What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
Where can I find a list of all your books? Where can I find more information on a particular title?
When will (insert book title here) be reprinted?
How can I find an out of print book?
What were your pen names? Why did you use a pen name?
I’m a collector. How can I find a book written under one of your pen names?
Why do you only write one book a year? Why does it take so long for each release?
When will you be touring in or near my vicinity?
Do you have any hobbies?
What does the acronym AKA mean in the book LOW PRESSURE?
Have any of your books been made into movies? Where can I find them?
Numerous books have been optioned either for feature films or TV Movies, but only one made it to the screen. FRENCH SILK was an ABC-TV movie in 1994. It starred Susan Lucci, Shari Belafonte, and Lee Horsley. Currently, SMOKE SCREEN is ‘in the works’ and slated for a November release from Lifetime Television.
Check online sites such as amazon.com, bn.com, ebay.com or half.com or your local movie rental store.
Why aren’t more of your books made into movies?
Numerous books have been optioned either for feature films or TV Movies, but taking books to film is an onerous process that, more times than not, doesn’t pan out. Selling the movie rights to a novel doesn’t guarantee you a movie. It only means that you’ve sold someone the option to produce a movie, and once those rights are sold, the project is in the hands of the buyer(s).
Are any of your books a series or sequential?
Yes I have carried over characters from one book to another. Here are the sets in the order they should be read:
- SMASH CUT / TOUGH CUSTOMER
- TEXAS!LUCKY / TEXAS!CHASE / TEXAS!SAGE
- FANTA-C / ADAM’S FALL
- BREAKFAST IN BED / SEND NO FLOWERS
- LED ASTRAY / THE DEVIL’S OWN
- SUNSET EMBRACE / ANOTHER DAWN
Do you plan to write a sequel to Sunset Embrace and Another Dawn? Will you rewrite the ending of Another Dawn?
No sequel in the Coleman/Langston series is planned. No plans for rewriting the ending of Another Dawn are in the works at this time.
Where do you get your ideas?
For each book there’s a background story of how the idea first occurred to me and how I developed it into a plot. There isn’t a pattern. Sometimes the story begins with a character, sometimes with an issue or subject that interests me. At other times, I simply see a scene or hear dialogue in my head and the story begins with that.
Do you accept story ideas from other people?
Never. Each story must be my very own.
Do you read and critique unpublished manuscripts?
For legal reasons, and on the advice of my agent, no.
Are your characters based either on people you know or celebrities?
No. I like creating characters that are unique unto themselves. I know some lovely and interesting people, but I doubt you’d want to read 600 pages about them. They’re not that interesting! As for celebrities, I never “cast” my book as though it’s a movie. It’s even difficult for me to cast the book after it’s written. The characters become so real to me, I can’t imagine them looking any differently than how I see them.
Are your stories/characters based on your own experiences?
Are you kidding? If I had lived everything that I’ve put into the 60 plus books, when would I have written the books? It’s all make-believe.
How did you get started?
When I got fired from my television job. Suddenly I had time on my hands and, on a dare from my husband, began doing what I’d been saying for years that I wanted to do – write. It was scary then and it’s no less scary today. Unfortunately there is no magic formula or shortcut – none I know of anyway – for putting words on paper that hopefully someone will find compelling enough to read.
How do I get an agent?
Check your local library for resource books that list representatives, what kind of material they handle, and other pertinent information. The Internet is another valuable resource. Be prepared for this to take a lot of time and effort. For more information on getting started go here.
How do I go about selling the manuscript I’ve written?
You either submit it to the publisher directly, or you retain an agent, which is what I recommend. In either case, before you send the manuscript, begin with a query letter asking if they would consider reviewing your work. Most publishers don’t take unagented submissions. For more information on getting started go here.
What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
Practice, practice, practice! Write, write, write and read, read, read!
Where can I find a list of all your books? Where can I find more information on a particular title?
You can download a complete list of all my books here or search the book database for more information on a particular title.
When will (insert book title here) be reprinted?
Please check the publishing schedule for news on reprints, or do an advanced search on Amazon.com.
How can I find an out of print book?
First, check the publishing schedule for reprint dates or try “traditional” used booksellers. Also, see our page on finding Out of Print and Hard To Find Books here.
What were your pen names? Why did you use a pen name?
Laura Jordan(Gallen/Pocket Books), Rachel Ryan (Dell Books), Erin St. Claire (Silhouette Books), as well as my own, Sandra Brown (Warner and Bantam Books). I used pen names because I was writing for several publishers simultaneously. Now, everything is published under Sandra Brown.
I’m a collector. How can I find a book written under one of your pen names?
Sometimes they can be found via “traditional” used booksellers, but you might have to try your luck at websites like Ebay.com. Also, keep an eye on the giveaways I do via Goodreads
Why do you only write one book a year? Why does it take so long for each book to be released?
I only write one book a year in order to do the story justice. It takes that long for the idea and the characters to be developed, researched, and written. Then while a cover is being decided up/created/approved, the manuscript is edited, typeset, proofed, and edited again.
When will you be touring near or in my vicinity?
I do most of my touring with the release of my new book each fall, with intermittent appearances the rest of the year. Please check the News page for destinations and details or join our Mailing List to have updates sent to you.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love movies, travel, and hosting get-togethers with my family and friends. And, of course, my favorite pastime is reading.
What does the acronym AKA mean in the book LOW PRESSURE?
AKA, pronounced Ay-kuh, does mean also known as, but in LOW PRESSURE is also a nickname. It was a nod to my friend Mary Lynn Baxter, who knicknamed me AKA many years ago. LOW PRESSURE is also dedicated to her.
