Sandra Ruttan

53, Female

Between the Prairies and the Rockies

Canada

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Between the Prairies and the Rockies
About Me:
I am co-founder and editor with Spinetingler Magazine and my book, What Burns Within, will be published in May '08 by Dorchester.

Proudly Canadian and member of 4MA.
I Am A:
Writer
Website:
http://www.sandraruttan.com/
Books And Authors I Like:
Ian Rankin, Ken Bruen, Simon Kernick, Laura Lippman, Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, Cornelia Read...
Movies And TV Shows I Like:
The Wire, The Shield, Homicide

Comment Wall:

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  • Sandra Ruttan

    I've never broken a heel because I can't wear them! I need a different standard or Evil Kev's set for life.

    Apr 10, 2007

  • I. J. Parker

    Hi, Sandra. Thanks for the welcome and nice to "meet" again.

    Apr 11, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    hum - well how about pulling out hair? Either your own or his. If you are driven to hair yanking he is toast. I really think heels are easier.

    Apr 11, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Hi IJ, nice to see you here!

    Lynne, okay, hair-pulling is definitely criteria!

    Apr 11, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Let me know when you have time to write it --- I am sure I can be a great help. Might want to list it as comedy though (somehow I don't think anyone would take my very sincere ideas very seriously)

    Apr 11, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Oh you are a good girl! Thanks.

    Apr 12, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Me? Good? Well, maybe sometimes. But don't let word slip out. I have a rep to maintain!

    Apr 12, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Rep huh? All I have heard about you has been good so that just don't carry no weight kid. Maybe EvilKev could shed light on your darker side?

    Apr 13, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Geez, who've you been talking to? I have to know which bribes are working!

    Apr 13, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    I was sworn to secrecy

    Apr 13, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Okay, how much can I buy the truth for?

    Apr 13, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Hummm - now I have to think. How much?? Will have to get back to you on that.

    Apr 13, 2007

  • Tony Black

    Hey, Sweet Cheeks! You still using that name? Friend of mines (he's big in chemicals!!) told me you were.

    Apr 25, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Good lord...

    I think you'll fit right in here Tony!

    Apr 25, 2007

  • norby

    I can't believe someone just called Sandra Sweet Cheeks and is still living. Are you not feeling well? And can I call you that?

    Apr 26, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Norby, NO, you cannot call me that.

    You have to consider the source. I did, after all, call him Push Daddy.

    Apr 26, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Sweet Cheeks? Okay. I won't say a word.

    Finally got a cartridge for the printer, now I just have to get Colin to make it go. I am useless with this stuff (great with playing at making webpages and graphics but useless with printers and scanners - go figure)

    Apr 27, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    I know how that is Lynne. I seem to be able to find ways to mess up the simplest things!

    Apr 27, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Okay so he printed the first hundred pages - only it crapped out at 61 so he has to try again. I read those and am suitably impressed other than the subject matter which I am ONLY reading because I like you (I am one of the no kids allowed ones). We will print the rest hopefully tomorrow and I can see how it all goes - I do like your style very much.

    May 4, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Ah, I didn't realize re: 'no kids'. I look forward to what you have to say... glad you like the style.

    Hope things are going okay.

    May 4, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Thanks. Yup - we turned a corner yesterday and the world tilted back to something more normal. Not that it won't have its moments but it is okay now and getting better so that is all to the good.

    I do very much like your style. I like your characters too. I have a really hard time with kid stuff - am one of the ones who could not get past the first part of Field of Blood at all and gave up on Dead Run too even though the kid stuff was only at the very beginning. To be honest, that bothers me more than your story does - the kid was built up as a person and then killed off and it was not necessary to the story. That did me in. I am a bit better when there is a reason to include it if that makes any sense.

    May 5, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    I'm really glad to hear you turned the corner. It's been such a process, and sometimes the reality comes in waves, you know what I mean? You think it's better and then it hits you again.

    I *think* you'll be okay, given what you've said, but I won't give you any spoilers. Main thing is, I'm very glad to hear you like the characters. It's always a trick introducing a new series and because of the nature of the story there's no sit-down-have-tea-talk-about-feelings time that would be realistic in the beginning. I will be very interested to hear your overall impressions about how they develop as you continue.

    And thanks again for doing those questions for the first book. Kevin put them on my website, I think.

    May 5, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    I think the questions for books we have done as a group on 4MA might be good to look over too. The mods there seem to have such a good insight into what to ask. I still panic at the idea of doing a minor review on Amazon!

    May 5, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    I need to look over them. Some time when I have a few free hours and can think. Wonder if that will happen some day?

    May 5, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    I know the feeling! Not that time is an issue most days but the ability to think sure can be. You can be Sweet Cheeks and I will be Fuzzy Brain.

    May 5, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Oh, I don't know Lynne! I can compete for Fuzzy Brain! I'm not even touching Sweet Cheeks...

    May 5, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Okay - I will share my Fuzzy Brain standing with you. But that is it! No one else. We get to be the double Fuzzys. The rest of them have to figure out their own names.

    Book still good now that it is finally ALL printed out and I can read it. So far the only 'mistake' is a missing 's' at the end of a word. Not bad for about a quarter of the way in. I am starting to get comfortable with the characters - there are several at first so it took a bit of reading to decide which ones were primary but I think I am there. I quite like Ashlyn and am curious (as always) about her history.

    May 6, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    The Double Fuzzys. I like that!

    Not bad on the mistakes. Of course, it remains to be seen if I make up for it in the second half.

    I'm glad you like Ashlyn - she's fun to write. I find the three main all have something appealing about them when it comes to writing.

    Looks like we might actually have spring here - wonders will never cease!

    May 6, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    We had spring here today too. Memorial service and the weather was lovely, just cool and clear and sunny. I am exhausted now of course. Am reading and enjoying - will hopefully be awake long enough to read a bit tonight - not entirely sure. It is coming along nicely though and I do like the three of them - can't do names tonight Ashlyn and Tain and Craig? Anyway, I am enjoying them a lot and watching how the relationships unfold there.

    May 7, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Yes you have the names right.

    I was wondering about the service. I'm glad you had nice spring weather for it, but I can imagine it must be emotionally draining. And like we talked about, that mix of feelings.

    I think Yahell has kicked me off 4MA again, second time this week. Drives me mad.

    Take it easy tonight. You've had a lot going on. X

    May 7, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Okay so I am down to the last fifty pages. I stayed up till three thirty this morning reading it. WHY did that publisher turn it down? Nice or not whoever it was has made a mistake - this is really good. I am totally enjoying it, I like the characters and the story has me totally sucked in. I suspected a link between the three types of crime issues. Can't wait to get back to it and find out just what is going on and how they resolve it.

    May 9, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Awwww Lynne...

    Well, the publisher only had a partial, you have to remember. They get sent a query package and it contains sample chapters. I don't even know for sure (since the agent decides) but I'm guessing they only got the first day, if that.

    I'm thrilled to hear you're enjoying it, and I can't believe you stayed up so late! Ken Bruen did the same thing when he read it - straight through to the wee hours. It's such a compliment. Maybe I should just forget about the angst of rejection and write for you two!

    May 9, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    I am thinking it would be fun to do an arc in a f2f group. Discuss a book in detail Before it is published and then give the author the feedback - or at least the feedback that might be useful. I did not catch too many typos and stayed up again last night finishing it (mind you would not have had to be up so late if life here were not hectic enough that I don't get to read much before eleven). Finished, really enjoyed it all and was surprised by a few things at the end. I hope to see it published soon!

    May 10, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Thanks Lynne! Sometimes there isn't enough gap between arc and publication, but it's an interesting idea. There's a lot to gain from listening to readers - re: SC I had one person tell me recently they were completely surprised by Hatcher. And Collins. So, it's always interesting to hear what goes through the mind of readers, because we know the story so it doesn't work on us the same way.

    May 10, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Yeah - I know my ideas are often far fetched but sometimes something totally impractical can be reworked to something useful. Don't ask me what though - I have no clue.

    May 18, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    You should read the comments on my blog post here - some of the ideas are really good.

    May 18, 2007

  • Lois Reibach

    The Mountie photo was from the Sisters in Crime tea at Bouchercon Toronto. He was there to greet us and provide a photo op, which I took advantage of.

    May 28, 2007

  • Lois Reibach

    I wish I could go to Alaska, but I'll have 2 kids in college this fall, which doesn't leave enough money for my outside interests :)

    But I've already registered for Bouchercon in Baltimore, which is just a couple hours down the road.

    May 28, 2007

  • Betty Duffy

    Hi Sandra, thanks for the invite - still waiting for Farraday!!

    May 31, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Dear heavens Betty! Just don't hold your breath, okay? I wouldn't want anything to happen to you while you're waiting for the slow wheels of the publishing industry to turn!

    May 31, 2007

  • Naomi Hirahara

    So Gather has come out with its First Chapters winners.

    http://firstchapters.gather.com/

    I guess the grand experiment has worked out for these two folks. So who knows about the other experiments. . . .

    Jun 1, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Interesting Naomi, that they're offering them contracts.

    Wonder if they're up on all the latest advice re: S&S from the authors guild? I did post commentary at In For Questioning on the media predict thing, and the language with their terms of use - it essentially made it a scam, because posting there meant Media Predict held 'perpetual' rights. I can't help thinking these people will be screwed over royally.

    Jun 1, 2007

  • Tony Black

    Hey Sweet Cheeks! (Dang it why can't I get that tag to take off?) Just want to say that is one DEADLY tale you have over at Pulp Pusher...nice work!!

    Jul 4, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Ha! Thanks Tony!

    Jul 4, 2007

  • Julie Morrigan

    Hi Sandra - love the story over at Pulp Pusher, very nice work! Cheers, Jools

    Jul 5, 2007

  • Sandra Ruttan

    Thanks Jools!

    Jul 5, 2007

  • Janet Reid

    Thanks for the invite!

    Jul 27, 2007

  • Cara Black

    I've met you via MWA and nice to meet online

    Jul 28, 2007

  • Declan Burke

    Hi Sandra - Thanks for the invite, I really appreciate it ... your reputation precedes you, naturally. I am as humbled as it's possible to be in an electronic medium ... Also, consider me intrigued by the Kevin Wignall photo malarkey ... I got an ARC of Conrad Hirst and there was no photo Kuddly Kev on the kover, sorry, cover ... is he so damned handsome he'll distract you from actually reading? Cheers, Dec

    Aug 9, 2007

  • LC Fraser

    Hi Sandra! We were up at Penetanguishene all week and I am bugged out. Any news? What did I miss?

    Aug 12, 2007