Writer Wednesday: Meet Sandy Loyd!

sandyloydWelcome to Writer Wednesday. We’re so glad you’ve taken a little time out of your day to meet our latest featured author, Sandy Loyd.

Sandy is a romance author who writes in several different subgenres (contemporary, romantic suspense, historical and time travel), bringing us “romance with a twist.” Gotta love that!

So gather up that leftover Halloween candy and chow down on some chocolate as you get to know Sandy a bit better! And once you’ve cleaned your fingers, I hope you’ll leave Sandy a note in the comments!


Passports to world travelWhat inspires you to write?

I’m inspired by life. By what I see around me and what I’ve learned through my experiences. I love to travel, especially to other countries, which always inspires me and gets the creative juices flowing.

People everywhere are essentially the same. Most care about what’s important in their lives, such as family, job security and having a home and enough to eat. What makes a foreign city interesting are the added challenges being in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar customs. I see a story in almost any setting.

Gate to ancient medina of Fez, Morocco
Gate to ancient medina of Fez, Morocco

Sitting on a train in a French city while people watching or being led through a Moroccan medina with a tour group, I create stories in my mind. Going through the Medina in Fez was an incredible experience. It’s totally different from anything in the US. It’s a city within a city located within a few square miles. It would be like going into a mega mall that also had food and housing in the 18th century. There are narrow passages that led to everything one might need to live – clothing, jewelry, furniture, food (from slaughtered chickens and pigs to fish, from spices, fruits and vegetables to rices and pastas). The mega structure had homes above the shops. I can’t remember how many lived within the medina, but we needed a guide to keep from getting lost. It took most of the day to tour the narrow passages crowded with Moroccans. Even animals like burros were a common sighting.

I ask myself what would happen if… Someone got lost while someone was chasing them? Why the chase and what would I do? From there a story is born. You get the idea. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to write all of the books that I’ve thought of, so I just come up with an outline and put it in a ‘New Stories’ folder.

 Heart shaped book pagesWhat is your favorite type of romance and why?

My favorite romance genre is Romantic Suspense/Mystery. I love twists and turns.

One of my favorite TV shows is NCIS. They always have some great twists, plus the characters are what make the show. I love the way they have all arced since its inception. They face danger, but they have a lot of fun while they do it.

Those are the kind of books I like. Great characters who face danger, but have a great time while doing it. I’m not into gore and darkness. I see that every day on TV. When I read for pleasure, I want more than just a romance. I want something fun and entertaining to lead me on a twisting adventure.

shannaWhat is your favorite romance novel of all time and why?

My favorite romance of all time is Kathleen Woodiwiss’s Shanna.

The book was an epic adventure with the ultimate hero – Ruark Deveraux Beauchamp. The author revolutionized romance with her first novel, and Shanna took it to new heights. I was hooked from the first chapter. I loved the mystery/suspense element woven into the plot as well as the island setting. Ruark went to great lengths to prove his love and commitment. It was one of the most romantic books I’ve ever read.


lowcountryA Bit About A Lowcountry Christmas Miracle:

Considering the bad blood between father and son, it will take a miracle to get Cade Duval to return to the Lowcountry for Christmas. Lacey Barnes has loved Cade since…forever…and feels up to the task of making sure it happens. Unfortunately, Cade’s in a relationship and Lacey would never poach. Success means her heart will be broken all over again. 

Yet, miracles have a way of happening at Christmastime. Like the miracle of finding true love and the miracle of family coming together. But the most wonderful miracle of all is the miracle of forgiveness.

Find A Lowcountry Christmas Miracle here:

Amazon | Nook | iBooks | Kobo 


Vintage TypewriterA Bit About Sandy:

Sandy Loyd has worked and lived in some fabulous places in the US, including Northern California and South Florida. She now resides in Kentucky and writes full time.

As a former sales rep for a major manufacturer, she’s traveled extensively throughout the US, and has a million stored memories to draw from for her stories. She spent her single years in San Francisco and considers that city one of America’s treasures, comparable to no other city in the world. The books in her California Series, starting with Winter Interlude, are all set in the Bay Area.

 Sandy is now an empty nester who has written almost two dozen novels. She strives to come up with fun characters—people you would love to call friends. We all know friends have their baggage and when we discover what makes them tick, we come to love them even more.

Whether she’s writing historical, time travel, romantic suspense, or contemporary romance, Sandy always tries to weave a warm love story into her work, while providing enough twists and turns to entertain any reader.

Want to connect further with Sandy? Find her here:

Facebook | Twitter | Website  


Thanks so much for joining us, Sandy! 

Writer Wednesday: Meet Catherine Chant!

Welcome to Writer Wednesday!

Today we’ve got Catherine Chant rockin’ the house – which is especially apt, considering she writes rock ‘n’ roll romantic fiction and stories with paranormal twists for young adults. How cool is THAT?

Read on to learn more about Catherine and her latest work – and I hope you’ll leave some love in the comments. Because authors need groupies, too! 🙂


Red heart shapes on a handwritten old journal.

What inspires you to write?

I think I’m going to be in the minority when I say I’m not the type of writer who feels she has to write (like that I’ll die if I couldn’t). I’m creative in so many different ways that if writing were no longer an option, I’d find another outlet and be okay with that.

So why do I write if I don’t have to? I write because I enjoy it. It’s that simple. I like telling stories. I like starting on a path and seeing what’s around the corner. I enjoy discovering the unexpected, and I would love for readers to come along for the ride. I’m constantly inspired by the question of “What if…?”

[ML: So glad I’m not the only one who feels that way – though if I did, I think I’d get a lot more written.]

Close up of fountain pen on old letter

What one piece of advice do you wish you’d had when first starting out?

When I was in elementary school, the teachers would tell my mother that my assignments were sometimes late because I spent too much time looking around the room to see what other kids were doing.

I made that same mistake when I started writing. Sometimes it’s disguised as learning from others, which is fine, but if you pay too much attention to what other writers are doing, it’s easy to forget to work on your own stuff. Write for yourself first and don’t worry so much what everyone else is doing.

What’s your favorite romance novel of all time, and why?

This is a hard choice. I’ve read and loved a lot of books. But I’d have to say that the romance that stands out the most in my mind after all these years is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I read it when it was first published back in 1991 and it just struck a chord with me. The history, the emotions, the romance. It has it all. That book made me fall in love with the whole time travel genre and inspired me to write my own. Before that moment, I’d mostly read gothic romances.

chef at work

Name two things people don’t know about you.

1. I always say I’m a horrible cook (it’s been a running joke in my family since I was a kid–I was majorly inept in Home Ec class), but I’m actually not that bad. I don’t much like cooking, though, so I’m happy to have everyone believe I’m horrible at it and that’s why I don’t cook more.

2. Before I got into writing, I was an artist. I drew and painted pictures all the time. Looking back, I probably should have gone to art school and become a graphic designer, but my parents wanted me to have a “practical” career, so I went to a traditional four-year college and studied math and held a technology job for 15 years. Now I’m back in the arts, so I got here eventually.


NSTS-Cover-400x600A Bit About Nothing Stays the Same (young adult time travel romance)

How far would you go to save someone’s life? Leah and Brennan are going all the way back to 1973.

One Choice Changes Everything…

In 1973, The Beat Detectors are the hottest TV pop band to hit the airwaves since The Monkees, thanks to the appealing vocals of rising teen idol Ronnie Basford. But behind the scenes, not everything is rainbows and unicorns. Ronnie realizes much too late that one bad decision can ruin your whole life.

Forty years later, Ronnie is dead from an apparent suicide and his sixteen-year-old son Brennan wants answers. He needs to understand how it all went so wrong. When he finds himself dropped back in time, to the set of his father’s TV show, he’s determined to redirect the course of his father’s life and create the happy ending Ronnie deserved.

Soccer star Leah Reinard has been crushing on Brennan Basford for ages. When they end up at the same summer job, she thinks the fates have finally aligned in her favor. That is, until Brennan suddenly disappears from existence. One day he’s there, the next day, he’s gone. And no one but Leah even remembers him. Can Leah find Brennan in time to stop him from ruining both their futures?

Available from Amazon.com: https://amzn.com/B01IASDPV4


writingA Bit About Catherine: 

Catherine Chant is an active member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a Golden Heart® finalist. She writes rock ‘n’ roll romantic fiction and stories with paranormal twists for young adults. Catherine is currently working on a new young adult suspense novel, and the next book in her Soul Mates series.

You can connect with Catherine at her website CatherineChant.com, on Twitter @Catherine_Chant, on Facebook CatherineChantNovels, or on Instagram Catherine_Chant


Thanks so much for being here, Catherine – I’m thrilled you chose to be a guest. 🙂

InD’tale Magazine’s RONE Awards: Vote for A Matter of Time!

Front Cover of A Matter of Time by Margaret LockeA Matter of Time has been nominated for InD’tale Magazine’s RONE Award in the time travel category!

Holy cow! I’m so tickled and excited, I want to jump in a vat of chocolate. (Okay, I want to do that every day, but that doesn’t take away from my squeeing over this honor.)

But if A Matter of Time is going to win, we need YOU!

If you have a spare sec, please click on over to the voting page and cast your voice for A Matter of Time.

Eliza, Deveric, and I thank you!!!

Everybody needs a cheap romance at least once in their life, right?

A Man of Character can be yours for less than $1, but only for A Matter of Time…Don’t miss out on your chance to fall in love with the magic this Valentine’s Day!

amanofcharactersmallA Man of Character: http://bit.ly/AManOfCharacter – Check out this whimsically magical romantic comedy, in which a bookstore owner must choose between fantasy and reality after discovering the men she’s dating are living versions of fictional characters she created long ago.

A Man of Character is a HIT!!! Margaret Locke’s first novel is a true gift to any of us that enjoy romantic comedies with a whimsical twist.” – Annie McDonnell, The Write Review and chicklitplus.com

amatteroftimesmallA Matter of Time: http://bit.ly/AMatterOfTime – A fun, emotion-packed Regency time-travel romance in which a modern-day Austenite’s dream comes true when she lands in the arms of an authentic Regency duke, only to learn some fantasies aren’t all they’re cracked up to be when he proves less than a Prince Charming…

“A love story and so much more, A Matter of Time should be on every fantasy, paranormal, contemporary and Regency romance readers “to read” list. I would definitely recommend this novel – you will be charmed, captivated, have a few good laughs and shed a few tears as you cheer Eliza and Dev on to find their happy every after ending.” – Marcy, Keeper Bookshelf

RELEASE DAY! A Matter of Time is HERE! + plus short excerpt

AMOTDebut2

Yes! A Matter of Time is finally here, available today in Kindle and paperback format! Wahoo!!!

Thank you to ALL of you for your marvelous support – you stunned me by pre-ordering 107 copies! I can’t wait to read your reviews on Amazon and GoodReads, to find out what you think of Eliza and Deveric’s story – and of course you may always drop me a personal email to let me know what you think.

Just for fun, here’s a small excerpt, one of my favorite passages, perhaps because of how often my daughter and I watched each Disney Princess movie – especially my beloved favorite, Beauty and the Beast:

If only it were as easy as waltzing one time at a ball, and falling instantly in love. Cinderella didn’t know how good she had it. She’d won over her Prince with one look. The tale said nothing about the Prince having a suspicious mother or a handful of sisters. Much less a recalcitrant son.

Cinderella may have occupied the bottom rung in the world in which she lived, but at least she’d been familiar with all the rules, had known the ins and outs way better than Eliza did, no matter how much she’d thought she’d known before coming here.

Eliza sighed. She’d always liked Belle better, anyway. Belle hadn’t given a fig for what society thought, and ended up with that amazing library of books. After taming the Beast, of course. Ah, the Beast. He hadn’t really been a beast at all, just a wounded man looking for love . . . and acceptance. Okay, maybe he had been beastly, at first, in human form; but it was Belle’s love that had transformed him, had healed him, had accepted him, and allowed him to open his heart again.

Cat had known Beauty and the Beast was Eliza’s favorite story; had she been thinking of that when she drafted Deveric’s tale? Was Eliza Belle, Deveric her wounded beast? And Regency society the mob of angry townspeople she needed to appease?

Only $2.99 on Kindle, or $13.79 on paperback (though Amazon has it marked down to $12.14 – not sure how long that will last!), and FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/AMatterOfTime

*** Please feel free to share – word of mouth is still the best way to make others aware of books you like, and we indie authors need all the word of mouth we can get. ***

I am so very, very grateful to everyone who’s come into my life this year via my books – I’ve met such terrific authors and readers who are now friends, and I can’t tell you how moving that is, to know my book, my writing, touched someone enough to reach out and connect with me. Much love to all of you!