Ask the Author: Sabrina Devonshire
Answered Questions (7)
Sabrina Devonshire
Right now the biggest mystery, which might not be wildly exciting to read about, is how my relationship with my husband will change after he retires. I think he's afraid he won't have an identity without work. I think any book that explores a feeling of a loss or change of identity for any reason - whether it's due to retirement, relocation, job change, loss of a loved one, or an illness, can add to the depth of a character. Thank you for your interest!
Sabrina Devonshire
My latest book, Amalfi Affair (Navy SEALs of Valor 1), was inspired by a recent trip my husband and I took to the Swiss Alps and Italy's Amalfi Coast. I decided the male protagonist should be a Navy SEAL after my husband and I watched a video on BUD/S training. I checked out several Navy SEAL books out of the library as research.
Sabrina Devonshire
I credit travel, swimming and walking with most of my inspiration, although watching people interact in airports, restaurants and train stations certainly helps, too. Often when I'm visiting a new place, ideas for books pop into my head. When I swim and walk, I eventually reach a zone where lots of ideas are flowing and then I can't wait to get home to write them all down. I carry a digital recorder with me to save ideas before they slip away!
Sabrina Devonshire
The author life isn't for the weak-of-heart, but if you really want to publish, I suggest taking lots of writing workshops, reading tons of books in your genre, and finding some trusted beta readers to help you polish. If you're going for traditional publishing, it is very discouraging. There is so much rejection and I remember many times wanting to just give up, but fortunately I received lots of encouragement from my husband and fellow writers and one day I received a "yes" to a query and it was one of those days I jumped up and down and shouted I was so happy. Since then, I've published five more books with my original publisher and self-published four titles to give me the "hybrid" author versatility.
Sabrina Devonshire
I'm writing an erotic romance entitled Amalfi Affair. This is Book one of Navy SEALs of Valor. I expect to release it late in August. Here's the blurb for this story, inspired by a recent trip to Switzerland and Italy...
On a cycling tour through the Swiss Alps, CIA agent, Olivia Simpson, meets handsome Navy SEAL, Darryl Jennings. Her lust shifts into overdrive for this man on leave from missions he won’t discuss. A one night stands leads to a blissful week traveling the Amalfi Coast. Because of their secretive careers, their love affair is destined to end. Olivia immerses herself into her Intelligence work with memories of Darryl never far from the surface. When she receives a surprise phone call from him nine months later, she dashes off to meet him in Italy. Too late, she realizes the call had been made by an imposter to lure her into a trap.
Despite Darryl’s decision to end his relationship with Olivia, he returns to his missions in Afghanistan unable to shake her from his heart. Regret for letting her go gnaws at him until he decides to search for her. After following numerous dead end leads, he gives up on ever finding the elusive woman who stole his heart nine months prior. When he’s called in for a mission to rescue a high-level intelligence officer who’s been kidnapped, he realizes the woman in question is his Olivia. Pressure mounts as he becomes embroiled in a mission where the fate of his country and his true love falls on his shoulders.
On a cycling tour through the Swiss Alps, CIA agent, Olivia Simpson, meets handsome Navy SEAL, Darryl Jennings. Her lust shifts into overdrive for this man on leave from missions he won’t discuss. A one night stands leads to a blissful week traveling the Amalfi Coast. Because of their secretive careers, their love affair is destined to end. Olivia immerses herself into her Intelligence work with memories of Darryl never far from the surface. When she receives a surprise phone call from him nine months later, she dashes off to meet him in Italy. Too late, she realizes the call had been made by an imposter to lure her into a trap.
Despite Darryl’s decision to end his relationship with Olivia, he returns to his missions in Afghanistan unable to shake her from his heart. Regret for letting her go gnaws at him until he decides to search for her. After following numerous dead end leads, he gives up on ever finding the elusive woman who stole his heart nine months prior. When he’s called in for a mission to rescue a high-level intelligence officer who’s been kidnapped, he realizes the woman in question is his Olivia. Pressure mounts as he becomes embroiled in a mission where the fate of his country and his true love falls on his shoulders.
Sabrina Devonshire
Creatively expressing myself through writing helps me feel balanced and whenever I'm writing regularly, I'm very content. I also enjoy having a flexible schedule that allows me to make family a priority and to pack up and leave town whenever I want.
Sabrina Devonshire
I usually head out for some kind of outdoor exercise - swimming most often - and that calms me down and gets the ideas flowing again. A change of scenery can also help. It might be a weekend trip or just taking my laptop to the library for a day or two.
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