Strangers brought together in a dark hotel elevator by a fierce storm - Sandra Bunino VBT Pit Stop Feb 22

Click on the image to visit the Meet & Greet with Sandra 

on VBT Cafe and watch the book trailer!

We are very excited to have Sandra Bunino with us today. This is why we love hosting for VBT Cafe; we get to meet awesome new authors!

Sandra is here to promote her new release Marooned in Miami. Love the cover - so sexy!!

Before we get to the Q&As here's a little about Sandra, so you can get to know her better.

Sandra Bunino began a love of romance stories while penning a creative writing assignment in high school. The story ended with the heroine receiving a long stem red rose in her locker on Valentine’s Day. Since then, all of her stories feature the hero presenting the heroine with roses. Sandra is constantly searching for different ways to achieve a heart-pumping, stomach-flipping, breath-catching reaction from her readers.

These days, Sandra lives on a wooded mountaintop not far from New York City with her family. Living so close to the city affords her the best of both worlds and provides wonderful writing material. She occasionally pretends to be in a Sex in the City episode and has renamed her best girlfriends Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda which she blogs about often.

Sandra’s first release is an erotic romance novella entitled Marooned in Miami and is currently hard at work on the sequel.

Brenda & Steve: Sandra, welcome to our blog! We’re so excited you could join us for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Sandra: Hey Brenda and Steve! I’m so happy to be on your blog today. Thanks for having me. I started writing erotic romance when I felt unfulfilled with many of the mainstream romance books I read. Then I discovered Lynda Chance, an author I adored. She wrote her heroes just how I like them – tall, dark, sexy and very Alpha. After reading all of her books, I contacted her to get some advice about the publishing process. She was so encouraging I decided take the plunge and submitted my erotic novella, Marooned in Miami, to Bradley Publishing. Bradley sent me a contract and a few months later it was out in the eBook marketplace.

Brenda & Steve: Please tell us a little about your new release, Marooned in Miami, without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Sandra: Marooned in Miami is a saucy, sexy, sensual story about strangers brought together in a dark hotel elevator by a fierce storm.

Stephanie, still reeling from a failed marriage, needs a break from the past. She decides to take her friends’ advice and finds a perfect stranger for a night of no-strings-attached, smoking hot sex. Jason, a wealthy Seattle builder has the worst luck with love. Swearing he would never allow another woman to get under his skin, Jason decides a life of casual sex is just fine with him. While watching Stephanie’s sexy stilettos click across the lobby floor, he zeros in on his next conquest.

Cut off from the outside world, the lives of these two strangers collide and burn with desire when stranded in the perfect storm. Both are content with the idea of sharing a glorious one-night stand together; that is, until they go their separate ways.

 

Undeniable lust and a fierce Miami storm bring sexy strangers together at The Hotel Del Santos for a passion filled night.

Stephanie, still reeling from a failed marriage, needs a break from the past. She decides to take her friends’ advice and finds a perfect stranger for a night of no-strings-attached, smoking hot sex.

Jason, a wealthy Seattle builder has the worst luck with love. Swearing he would never allow another woman to get under his skin, Jason decides a life of casual sex is just fine with him. While watching Stephanie’s sexy stilettos click across the lobby floor he zeros in on his next conquest.

Cut off from the outside world, the lives of these two strangers collide and burn with desire when stranded in the perfect storm. Both are content with the idea of sharing a glorious one-night stand together, that is, until they go their separate ways.

Brenda & Steve: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Sandra: I plan out certain physical and emotional traits but my characters definitely develop as the story unfolds. I find they soon take on a life of their own. For example, in Marooned in Miami, I originally wrote Jason as a gruff but sexy ultra Alpha hero. As the story advances, his rough edge softens slightly. This progression is important to the story and the connection between Stephanie and Jason. (For the record, Jason retains every ounce of sexiness. *smiles*

Brenda & Steve: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Sandra: I love sexy locales and have been to each location I write about in my books. Marooned in Miami is set in a small boutique hotel off Ocean Drive in South Beach. Other great locations that will end up in my stories are Las Vegas, New York City, Santa Monica, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape May and Cozumel. I’m a fan of setting detail and like to be as accurate as possible, so I even researched the type of wood used in the banister and steps of the grand staircase at the Hotel Del Santos in Marooned in Miami (chestnut – in case you’re curious).

Brenda & Steve: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Sandra: I try to outline but the plan soon flies out the window; I’m a total Pantser!

Brenda & Steve: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Sandra: My husband and I are working toward me writing full time but currently I work in Human Resources. I actually find some great material on the job. I wrote a short story for an erotic anthology called Felt Tips (Fall 2012 release) about a lustful office romance. The CEO and consultant creatively found a loophole in the company’s “hands off” policy. *winks*

Brenda & Steve: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Sandra: I love to sit down to write with a nice glass of red wine (my current fav is Manage a Trois – it’s a Cali Zin/Cab/Merlot blend – delish!), my Mac and my maltipoo on my lap.

Brenda & Steve: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Sandra: I don’t have many “writing days,” more like “writing chunks of time.” I love to grab a corner table at my local Starbucks with my laptop and a hot grande non-fat latte for a few hours where I can get lost in my story.

Brenda & Steve: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Sandra: I’m so excited about my 2012 line-up of releases. There is a sequel to Marooned in Miami underway titled Lusted in Las Vegas. Stephanie and Jason’s story will continue in Sin City! I’m also working on a summer release called Sara’s Smile -- I’m currently in edit mode on this one. It’s a sweet story about lost lovers finding each other years later. Yes, it’s sweet but also sexy as hell due to the smoking hot chemistry between Sara and Will. I also have a WIP about a modern day pirate set in Cozumel. It’s my first foray into BDSM territory. I’m looking forward to tearing into this one soon!

Brenda & Steve: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Sandra: I love to read anything in the romance genre but I also change it up a bit and throw in a good mystery here and there. There are so many fantastic authors out there, including those I consider friends and colleagues, so I simply cannot chose one. 

Brenda & Steve: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Sandra: Shoes! I’m such a shoe girl. Last weekend I went on a buying spree and snatched up a few beauties. I have a blog called ALL THINGS GIRL where I cover anything that would interest the fairer sex. I’ve covered thongs, music, men, even vibrators but the shoe posts garner the most comments. Chicks love their shoes!

Brenda & Steve: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

Sandra: My book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and AllRomance eBooks. I love interacting with friends and fans on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

Brenda & Steve: Sandra, thank you so much for stopping by today. You have something else to tell the readers!

Sandra: Yes I do! Also, I’m giving away an eBook to one lucky commenter and each commenter is automatically entered into my Kindle giveaway! Drawing for eBook held on Feb 24. Good luck!!

Love these shoes!