With over 60 New York Times bestselling novels over the last two decades, author Sandra Brown has become synonymous with sexy thrillers. For her latest book, "Low Pressure," Brown wisely sticks to what she does best: murder, mystery, betrayal, and plenty of steamy romance.
Winner of the International Thriller Writers Award in 2008, Brown sculpts "Low Pressure" as a book written by her protagonist, Bellamy Lyston Price. Bellamy writes the novel in an attempt to remember the details of the grisly murder of her sister Susan when she was only 12-years-old just so she can finally move on. Of course, in the tradition of these sorts of stories, things quickly get much worse.
Bellamy's novel stirs up dangerous animosity in her community. And soon after, with her father on his deathbed, he wishes for her discover the truth behind her sister's murder. To solve the crime, Bellamy seeks out a range of colorful characters involved with the murder investigation, including Dent Carter, Susan's then-boyfriend, an initial suspect in the case, and Bellamy's childhood crush. Along with Carter, Bellamy learns that the more she discovers the more her own life is in danger.
Originally a weather-caster in the Dallas, Texas area in the 1970s, Brown didn't begin her writing career until after she was fired. In 1981 after her husband dared her to try a career as an author. Since then she has published nearly 70 novels, and had over 50 New York Times bestsellers. Each of her last 15 books has been at the top of the New York Times bestsellers list.
"When I began writing, I knew that's what I was supposed to be doing," she said in an interview with CBS. "It was like all the lights came on. So I was really devastated at the time, you know. I was forced out of television, but on the other hand, it was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to do something that I know now I was intended to do the whole time."
"I thought, if I'm going to do this, I'm not going to do this as a hobby. I'm not going to dabble. I'm going to pursue it as a career," Brown says. "So therefore, I went to work every day like everybody else, except I went to a different room in the house to lock myself in."
Brown cut her teeth writing dozens of romances under three different pseudonyms, but after about a decade she decided to try her hand at more suspense-driven fare. Since then she's published her work under her real name, and slowed down her writing pace to one book a year.
"I have to come up with something new and different each time. Therefore, not only am I in competition with every other writer, I'm also competing with myself. This book has to be as good, if not better, than the other books. So, no pressure," she says with a laugh.
"Being a storyteller, I think, really that has to do with growing up and hearing about legends and stories and it helped spark my imagination," says Brown.
Brown's books have been translated into 33 languages. "We were in Prague and we walked into a large bookstore, a big chain bookstore, and one of the first books I saw was "Texas Lucky," which is an old book. I mean, it's like, 25 years old and they have this cheesy looking cowboy on the cover. It didn't look like an authentic Texas cowboy, but it was great. Here you are in Prague, and of course you can't read it, but it says 'Sandra Brown'," Brown says with a broad grin.
"Low Pressure" has fairly positive, but mixed reviews, with a current score of 3.5 out of 5 on Amazon, 3.7 out of 5 on Goodreads.com, and 4 out of 5 on Barnesandnoble.com.
"Low Pressure" is available now.