Blog Tour: Interview with Sandra Hill {The Norse King's Daughter} & Giveaway Entry Stop

Please welcome Sandra Hill, to AtM to talk about her latest release, 

The Norse King's Daughter.

My life and my books are a celebration of new beginnings.

Although I am a livelong writer--I'm the oddball who liked writing essays in school--it wasn't until the early 1990s that my writing interest turned to novels.  It was a new beginning for me...a totally different career path from the journalism I had been practicing.  More than twenty novels later, I am still in love with writing...and with new beginnings.

No wonder all of my books deals with new beginnings in some way or another.  In fact, my first novel, The Reluctant Viking, first published in 1994, was about a woman on the brink of divorce looking for a chance to start all over.  A new beginning for poor Ruby Jordan.  Fast forward more than ten years and you will find there is a theme of new beginnings in all my books.  Doesn't matter if it's divorce, death, despair, time travel, loneliness, boredom or plain old dissatisfaction, readers want to know that there is a chance for...yep, new beginnings.

One of the greatest gifts we have in this world is to find work we love, which is appreciated by others.  I have been especially blessed in that regard.

http://www.sandrahill.net/

Please tell readers a little bit about yourself.

I am the author of more than thirty romantic humor novels. Whether they be Vikings, Saxon knights, Cajuns, or Navy SEALs, whether they be historical, contemporary or time travel, the common element in all my books is humor.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I've always been a writer. I was the person who liked writing essays in school. And I was a newspaper journalist before turning to fiction writing.

What is the best part of being a writer? What is the most difficult part?

The best part: I can work at home. I am doing something that I love and getting paid for it. I've learned that my books touch some readers' lives, that humor can help people through hard times.

The worst part: Putting myself down and doing the work, day after day.

What is the last amazing book you read?

Anne Rivers Siddons ISLANDS. Although it is literary fiction, I loved the setting and characterization in this book.

Also, Nalini Singh's latest archangel book. Wow! What a talent!

Please tell us about your latest release.

THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER is the fourth and last book in the Viking princess novels. In this book, Princess Drifa is off to Byzantium to study flowers in the Imperial Gardens, but almost immediately she gets herself in trouble by being kidnapped by an evil Arab prince. The only one who can help her is Sidroc Guntersson, a soldier in the Emperor's Varangian Guard. Unfortunately, Sidroc cannot easily forget that Drifa broke a short-lived betrothal to him five years before by hitting him over the head with a pottery jug and leaving him for dead. Sidroc just laughs. No way would he help the lackwit woman, unless....

Can you tell readers who are not familiar with the series what the premise of hte stories are about?

The Norse Princess series involves the five daughters of the tenth century King Thorvald of Stoneheim, each of whom has an unusual talent for that time. An Amazon-like warrior princess, a builder (everything from chairs to buildings), a gourmet cook, and an expert on flowers. The first three books, MY FAIR VIKING (aka THE VIKING'S CAPTIVE), VIKING IN LOVE, and THE VIKING TAKES A KNIGHT led to my current release, THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER. Laughter and sizzle guaranteed with all my books.

Was there a character you enjoyed writing the most?

My hero, Trond Guntersson, was especially appealing to me. A tortured hero with a sense of humor. A wise editor once told me that if an author can make the reader laugh as well as cry when reading the book, it is a success. That's what I wish for this book. Tears and smiles.

Without giving away spoilers, can you share your favorite scene from the book?

Well, there is a 57-page love scene.

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs that readers jumping in somewhere other than the beginning need to be aware of?

I described this as a loosely linked series. To me, that means the books can stand alone, or be read out of order.

What was one of the most interesting things you learned in researching your book?

Lots of interesting things. The book takes places mostly in ancient Byzantium, a change for me. It is a colorful and interesting background for my story. I hope readers will enjoy this different setting, but also that they will learn a few things they didn't know before.

What do you feel makes your characters unique?

Their sense of humor. I love that I can create fierce fighting men with the ability to laugh at themselves. And, really, is there anything better than a man who can make a woman smile in bed?

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names?

No special formula. When it comes to Vikings, there are books and websites detailing the Viking names that were used in the old sagas, the best source for authentic Nose names.

Do you find it difficult to write in different genres?

As long as they are romance, no difficulty. I could never write mystery or horror, however; they just aren't my forte. Nor could I write literary fiction, but then I don't enjoy reading literary fiction, for the most part.

How do you like your heroes and heroines?

I love each and every one of the heroes in my more than thirty novels. Not so much the heroines, who are often place holders in the books. That is not to say that they aren't likable or even memorable in some cases, but to me, it's the hero, the hero, the hero. That's why I write from the male point of view as much as the female.

Tell us a little bit about your hero and who makes his perfect other half. :)

The book opens with Sidroc begging his father to help save his infant daughter. Throughout the book, Sidroc believes that his child died. So, there is a bit of poignancy to his character, that he cared to much.

Is there anything from your daily "real life" that has played a fundamental role in the inspiration or creation of the story line or characters?

My husband an four sons all have great senses of humor. And I always say that living in this all-male household has forced me to develop a sense of humor myself, as a survival skill.

What makes the setting so unique in this book?

There aren't many romance novels that take place in ancient Byzantium. It was an incredible city for that time period with all its engineering marvels and exquisite palaces. The Imperial Gardens are especially important to my story.

What drew you to the time period in which the story is set?

Well, I knew that I had to have a story for my last princess, and she was the one obsessed with flowers. What better place to put her than the warmer climate and unusual garders of the Golden City.

What can readers expect next from you?

A new genre for me...Viking vampire angels. Coming next May will be KISS OF PRIDE, the first of my DEADLY ANGELS series.
Keep in mind that I write humor. So, these vampire angels come from Transylvania, but not Transylvania, Romania. Nope, they're from Transylvania, Pennsylvania.

Also, my first audiobook comes out in December for 'TWAS THE NIGHT, and an ebook anthology called A DIXIE CHRISTMAS.

Can you leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the THE NORSE KING'S DAUGHTER?

*****

“Now, sweetling, like all good Vikings, ‘tis time for us go exploring.”

She perked up at that suggestion. “Where? What are we going to explore? The palace? The garden?”
 

“You.”

 
Where can readers find you on the web?

Please visit my website for more information about my books at www.sandrahill.net or check out Sandra Hill Author on Facebook.

Giveaway Details:

• Sandra Hill and Harper Collins will be giving away a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  

• Leave a comment along with your email addy.

• Contest will run the duration of the tour.

• The more tour stops you comment on, the greater your chances of winning! :)

Tour Stops:

October 3: Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
October 4: Reading Romances
October 5: Among the Muses
October 6: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
October 7: Riverina Romantics