WELCOME TO THE BLOG, SASHA! :)
Sasha Clinton discovered romance novels at the age of thirteen and has been addicted to the genre ever since. After getting a degree in Chemical Engineering and realizing that there was no way she could ever be an engineer, she decided to follow her passion and write romance novels. Sasha has lived in New Delhi, Melbourne, Manchester and Boston and continues to move frequently. But wherever she is, she’s hard at work on her next book.
Where to Find Sasha:
The_Book_Queen: Hi Sasha! Let’s start off with a fun question: tell us 3 unique/wacky/fun things about yourself.
Sasha:
1. I have an identical twin sister.
2. I was born in Chennai, India.
3. I speak three languages.
TBQ: What do you like about writing? What do you hate? Do the two things overlap sometimes?
S: I love the discipline writing has inculcated in me. Also, putting my thoughts on paper for endless hours is very therapeutic. Hate? I hate the days when the story I’m writing is meandering and I feel hopeless about being able to finish the book/scene/chapter. But bad days are always followed by good days and it’s that optimism that keeps me going.
TBQ: It's a love/hate relationship, it sounds like, but rewarding. Plus it makes your readers happy. :D
Your debut release, You’re Still the One, comes out next week. Can you tell us a little bit about this book, and why readers are going to love it?
S: In a nutshell, You’re Still the One is the story of two people who fall in love and marry, realize that love is not all flowers and rainbows, get divorced, meet again when they’re more mature and make it work in their second attempt. It’s about learning that love is imperfect, and needs time to grow in order to be able to bloom.
I think readers will love it because it’s a very emotional story that celebrates the trials that are a part of loving someone. Also, Andrew has a wicked sense of humor and is very charming (You will fall for him.)
TBQ: A sense of humor AND he's charming? Yep, definitely a swoon-worthy hero!
Second-chance-at-love stories can be so complicated. Why do Andrew and Ashley belong together?
S: I asked myself this question a lot of times when I was writing the book and I have a detailed document with the answers I came up with but that has a lot of spoilers, so I’ll just say that Andrew and Ashley belong together because Ashley was the one who gave Andrew the support to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and Andrew is the one who helps Ashley find the strength to love again.
TBQ: In 5 words or less, describe Ashley for us. And let's not forget Andrew -- what's he like?
S: Ashley-Sensitive, spontaneous, emotionally strong.
Andrew-Funny, charming, complex and caring.
TBQ: Do you have a favorite part from You’re Still the One?
S: I love the scene where Andrew and Ashley decide to divorce (It’s in Chapter 4, I think.) I really didn’t expect the scene to turn out as well as it did, and I’m proud of the way it turned out. It is one of the best scenes in the book, if you ask me.
TBQ: I know we all hate this question, author and reader alike. :) But I have to ask: What are a few of your all-time favorite books and/or authors?
S: Barbara Cartland was the author who introduced me to romance novels and I love her work. Judith McNaught and Susan Elizabeth Phillips are other great writers who kept me hooked to reading romances.
TBQ: I'm not familiar with Cartland; I'll have to look into her books though. :)
We've all fallen for a hero (or two, or three, or....ahem). Tell us one hero that you've fallen for—who is he and what drew you to him?
S: Though many romance readers tend to focus on male leads, I tend to remember the heroines in novels more than the heroes. One hero that was memorable to me was Matthew Farrell from Paradise by Judith McNaught.
TBQ: What's next-- Can you tell us a little bit about your upcoming releases or WIP?
S: I’m writing the next book on the NYC Singles series, which involves one of Ashley’s friends. It’s called ‘In My Arms Tonight.’ The cover image is available on my website.
SPEED ROUND:
A day on a secluded island OR a day at the spa? A day at the spa
Reading a spicy romance novel OR a sweet “my-heart-skips-a-beat” one? My-heart-skips-a-beat one any day.
Sexy highlander or handsome English lord? English lord.
Hot summer days OR cold winter nights? Cold winter nights.
If you could live anywhere, where would your dream house be? New York.
Cover Lover OR Blurb Fan? Blurb fan.
Steamy Novella OR Sweet Novel? (aka, Quickie or Slow Build Up?) Sweet Novel.
Quick—name the one food that you cannot live without! Vegetables (yeah, I’m boring like that.)
And finally, what’s the last book that you read and can’t stop recommending?
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. It’s a mystery/fantasy novel for younger readers but it has an amazing plot and wonderful characters. I do recommend it for people who like reading fantasy.
TheBookQueen: Thanks so much for stopping by, Sasha, and please know that you are welcome back anytime! Do you have any questions for our readers—something to spark a good discussion? :)
Sasha: Thank you for reading this interview. As a reader, I’ve always preferred beta-heroes to alpha-heroes, though they are rare in the romance genre. Is there anyone else who feels like there is a dearth of romance novels with convincing heroes that don’t fit the strong/rich/powerful/possessive stereotype? Just to add to that, I think Nora Roberts writes a lot of very realistic heroes with normal jobs, which is something I’ve always admired about her work.
Publication Date: February 27, 2016
Series: NYC Singles, 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
One love. One man. Two chances.
Ashley has her life sorted out. After a painful divorce, she has now rebuilt her life as an editor. She is happy with her life—until her ex-husband Andrew walks into it, opening up the deep scars that even time has failed to heal.
He’s gorgeous, funny and as utterly tempting as he was seven years ago. Plus, being the editor for his new book, she cannot avoid him. But Andrew has his own issues lingering from the past.
Bound together by work, every breath they take draws them closer, into the same hopeless, passionate love that they once shared....
Where to Buy*:
More Info:
Thanks again for stopping by today, Sasha, and sharing more about your new book with us!
Remember Sasha's questions for you:
As a reader, I’ve always preferred beta-heroes to alpha-heroes, though they are rare in the romance genre. Is there anyone else who feels like there is a dearth of romance novels with convincing heroes that don’t fit the strong/rich/powerful/possessive stereotype? Just to add to that, I think Nora Roberts writes a lot of very realistic heroes with normal jobs, which is something I’ve always admired about her work.
Enjoy!
Until Next Time,
*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!
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