Q: Hi Sandra and welcome. I am so glad you could join us here at RomanceJunkies. To start, will you please tell us a little bit about your current projects?

Sandra: Thank you for having me Brooke, it is truly an honor.

I am just finishing up my latest contemporary romance titled MIDNIGHT MAGIC. This follows on the heels of ONE ENCHANTED EVENING.

Q: When was the moment you knew you had to be a writer? Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently on your path to publication?

Sandra: I don't know if there was that one defining moment when everything clicked into place but it has been a fantastic ride with many ups and downs.

As for my path of publication, I chose the self publishing route because I really didn't have time for any other. I wanted to get ONE ENCHANTED EVENING out to the people. Now I'm busy working on getting the word out to the people that it's out there.

Q: What is the easiest part of writing for you? What is the one thing that is really hard for you? What is your tip for overcoming it?

Sandra:The easiest, LOL, The hotter the scene the more I enjoy writing it. The hardest has to be writer's block. When that happens I just have to sit back and rethink where I'm going because sometimes where I'm going isn't where the heroine would go.

Q: Every unpublished writer dreams of getting the call. How did yours come about? What did you do to celebrate?

Sandra:I signed the contract on my youngest son's, Mark's birthday which held significant meaning for me. Even more so that Mark had sketched the original limousine pictured on the cover. We celebrated with cake, coffee, family, and friends.

Q: What does your writing space look like? Is there a view? If you could change one thing about it, what would it be?

Sandra:My writing space is a small sun porch located directly off the living room so I am in the middle of everything. I loved this room from the moment we bought the house almost ten years ago and knew that it would be my writing room. There are four windows all around which face our quiet street with lovely French doors. For privacy I have bamboo shades which I usually keep opened so I don't miss a trick. It is definitely a girly girl room with lace curtains and pink everywhere. Chase and Chelsea have a fleece bed that resembles a comfortable giant fuzzy slipper under my desk which is Chase's comfort place. Whenever he's nervous that's where you'll find him.

I would love to have more room.

Q:Assuming you can snag a bit here and there, what do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any special hobbies or collections? What is the one thing you'd love to try, and will…someday?

Sandra:I love to read in my spare time. As for collections, I collect comic books, comic cards, beanie dogs, stamps, and anything Darth Vader. Every once in awhile I love to just go through them. Some card sets that I have are Beauty and The Beast, The Little Mermaid, and the special cards are so amazing that they actually move right before your eyes.

Something I'd love to try, I want to go whale watching and I always look at the Para-sailing brochure when we go to Cape May. I have dreamed of going Para-sailing and I get butterflies just thinking about it.

Q: How did Chase and Chelsea come about "owning" you? Did you get them both at the same time? What is their favorite snack?

Sandra:Chase and Chelsea are two years apart. They owned me from the moment I looked into their tiny little faces. We got them from the same breeder so we do believe they are related in some way, most likely cousins. Chase loves peanut bones and Chelsea prefers Roverolis.

Q:What is your current favorite movie? How about CD? What is it about them that draws you?

Sandra:The most current movie that I really enjoyed was Pirates of the Caribbean III (At Worlds End) with Johnny Depp. Nonstop action. Favorite CD, I wish it were that easy. Bon Jovi's Lost Highway, Carrie Underwood, and Daughtry. Bon Jovi, that's easy, he's from New Jersey and the others got their start on American Idol. Everyone deserves a chance to shine. That's the bottom line, getting the chance to aim for the stars.

Q: How did you and Tom meet? Was it love at first sight? What made you know he was "the one"?

Sandra:We met on a blind date, who would have thought? When it's love at first sight you just know it. As for acting upon it, that's another story altogether. When you have failed at marriage the first time you find yourself backing away from commitment. When I had began dating it sure wasn't to get married again. Then I met Tom and he changed my mind on a good many things and he also did one thing many men would never do. He knew up front that I came as a packaged deal and he accepted it from day one and not only that but he backed it up with that age old saying. "Actions Speak Louder Than Words!" To this day, he has never let me down.

Q:Which is more romantic and why: sharing a pizza with all your favorite toppings or sharing containers of Chinese take-out?

Sandra:Sharing a pizza with extra cheese, fresh mushrooms (not canned), and fresh basil by candlelight is romantic. A nice glass of wine. Throw in some garlic knots for good measure. Eating garlic does not keep me from smooching with my man.

Q:How do you describe Sandra Bonaldi? How does Sandra Bonaldi's husband describe her?

Sandra:I would describe myself as down to earth, energetic, funny, flirty, sassy, and warm.

Tom - I must admit that I was afraid to read Sandra's work. I was afraid that I wouldn't like it and how do you tell your wife that you think her book stinks so I kept putting it off. One day as I was bragging to my buddies about how great ONE ENCHANTED EVENING was she turned around and said, "Put your money where your mouth is." I knew I was in for it. She then issued me an ultimatum and gave me two weeks to read it, a chapter a day. I agreed. I was done in two days, I couldn't put it down. It held my interest from beginning to end. All I kept thinking was, this is my wife, and she's one hot tamale.

MORE FUN…

Q: October and Halloween…they are synonymous! Did you dress up this year? What was the best costume you ever donned?

Sandra:Halloween is a favorite holiday as my daughter Jackie's birthday is on the 30th. We had always had theme parties and costume parties are always fun. We get dressed every year and I love to greet all of the trick or treaters in my costume and they love it too. This year I'm going to be a Pirate. There's nothing sexier than a Pirate Wench in fishnets. I usually dress Chelsea as my sidekick but Chase wants no part of putting on a costume, just like a man!

Best costume ever, I actually borrowed the costume from my friend's sister and we went to a party dressed as Green Giant and Little Sprout. I was Little Sprout and my hair had stayed green for days. But we won the contest for most original costume and it had been a memorable experience.

Q: What is your favorite pair of shoes? What is the one pair that should have stayed at the shoe store?

Sandra:My favorite pair of shoes are a SM New York black satin 2 inch heeled MaryJane with a small flirty rhinestone buckle. I fondly refer to them as my Jessica shoes.

The pair that should have stayed at the store were a stiff pair of Nine West black leather flats.

Q: When Sandra Bonaldi gets hungry and hits the nearest fast food joint, what is the typical order that will wind up in her bag?

Sandra:Chicken Nuggets, a side salad with croutons and if I'm feeling a little dangerous, a small order of fries.

Q: And lastly, no interview of a writer would be complete without this question: what is your favorite comfort food?

Sandra:Dark Chocolate Milky Way Bar

Yum! I love those, also! Thank you, Sandra, for spending time with us at RomanceJunkies. Much luck in the future with your writing!

By Brooke Wills