Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Soul Mate author Sally Brandle sharing her inspiring journey from pastry chef to author and her upcoming novel, Torn by Vengeance.
(Available for pre-order)

Here’s Sally!

Pastry enabler appears in the description tag on several of my social media accounts. My mom taught me to bake simple scratch breads, cookies, and basic pastries. Being comfortable in front of an oven, I enjoyed the privilege of developing the training program for a family-owned commercial French pastry manufacturing company. European style doughs including buttery puff pastry, Danish, brioche, croissant, pie, and cinnamon rolls-in the unbaked form-became my canvas.

My college degree in teaching special education/behavior disorders trained me to embrace different learning styles in order to create a viable curriculum. Holding pastry classes allowed my creative side and teaching background to merge. I enjoyed business travel to seven states, including Montana where my first series takes place. Bakers, chefs, caterers, and restaurant owners shared techniques of shaping, cutting, and filling—I’ll divulge a few baking tips in my third book, The Targeted Pawn.

After nine years of standing for four or five hours to train, the damage from previous car accidents caught up with me. I hung up the professional apron and brought my antique rolling pin home, but I’m not a watch TV and eat bon bons type. I’d written a romantic suspense story on a dare and decided to pursue writing as a second act. Six books and a boatload of classes later, I’d contracted to a publisher The Hitman’s Mistake, the first story in my Love Thrives in Emma Springs series. Holding a book you’ve created is akin to holding a perfect brioche torte rustica—thought, patience, and many layers enhance the creation. In the publishing realm, rumor has it that after a million written words you’re getting the hang of it!

All books in this series contain a beloved equine element—long-eared Red, tiny Whinny, and rescued Pal. Whatever breed, my advice is the old adage, ‘don’t put the cart before the horse.’ Write whenever you get the chance, but I’d recommend incorporating finances into planning a second act as an author. I’m fortunate to be partnered with a supportive man who worked over forty years for a company now providing us with a pension. The lucky few who create best sellers straight away gain attention and my admiration, but I’m pragmatic. It’s tough to earn a living as an author, and after you’ve done five rounds of changes with your talented editor, you have a different appreciation for the book on your Kindle costing a few dollars.

Successful second acts are commonplace, especially in fiction. In The Hitman’s Mistake, Miranda gets another chance at a loving family after being ripped out of her inconspicuous life. In Torn by Vengeance, Corrin’s hero convinces her to shed distrust and work together to fight for love. I’m presently working on The Targeted Pawn, where Elon pushes through insecurity to defy convention and prove herself by welding her way into a tough rancher’s heart. These women need practice to succeed. In moving to any second act, you need confidence in your skills. Here’s John Wooden’s 4 Laws of Learning: explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition. If you have pastry baking questions, contact me through my website and I’ll be happy to help.

Happy trails.

Blurb

Look over your shoulder. He’s watching.

Corrin Patten is solidly on a path to make partner in a prestigious Seattle law firm when an ominous threat from her past turns deadly. She can handle circumstances necessitating a temporary move to the backwater town of Emma Springs, but its charming physician is another matter, as she’s issued a permanent moratorium on men.

Dr. Kyle Werner revels in trust from patients he regularly treats in a community he’s never wished to leave. Yet, Emma Springs lacks one thing, a woman to share his perfectly bucolic life. He’s read about pheromone attraction, but never experienced desire until meeting Corrin. They make an unbeatable team, but convincing her that his interest is sincere while they dissect layers of deceit requires the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel. Can they defeat the wealthy stalker bent on mistaken revenge against Corrin and destruction of the peaceful Montana setting?

If you thrive on tenacious heroines, sizzling attraction, and a shadowy villain with a grudge, you’ll love this prescription for thrills.

Interview and Reviews from…

USA Today | Haynet | Night Owl Reviews| Tome Tender Reviews

Where to find Sally…

Website | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads