Category Archives: NEWS

SNEAK PEEK: New Novel in the works BREAKING THE MOON

SNEAK PEEK: New Novel in the works BREAKING THE MOON

BREAKING THE MOON is the follow-up to 2010′s release, DREAM CATCHERS.  Haley, Jordan & Tortured are back!  Synopsis coming soon.  For now, here’s a sneak peek dedicated to Sandy’s Twitter followers for all their retweeting and Follow Friday’ing!  Follow the progress of this book on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorSandyLo.  You can also follow Tortured and their music releases: www.twitter.com/TORTUREDband.

SNEAK PEEK

Spoiler Alert Warning:  If you haven’t read DREAM CATCHERS, reading further will give too much information on that book.  Stop now!  If you’ve read Dream Catchers, by all means, proceed…Feedback is much appreciated!  Please comment below.  Thank you!

December 20th

The sound of a baby crying rang through my head like church bells tolling.  She was my baby; making the most beautiful sound I have ever heard though haunting at the same time.  The sound was shrill and consistent, as if the baby needed to be picked up.  Somehow I knew the baby was a she.  Daddy’s little girl.

I couldn’t find her no matter where I looked.  Times Square.  Battery Park.  Columbus Circle.  Every direction I turned was a mistake.

I was wandering New York City looking for someone I wasn’t sure even existed.  Every turn I made seemed to bring me further away from the crying.  The city was desolate; no honking horns, no tourists.  The lights of the buildings and streetlights were far too dim to be accurate.

I turned onto a dead end street and the last person I wanted to see was standing there; with her long, flowing chestnut hair and dramatic make-up.  She looked plastic.  Had she always looked that way?  Why was I ever attracted to someone like Bippy Reynolds?

“She’s gone, Charlie.”

Bippy used my birth name—the name I tried so hard to escape; my father’s name.

“Where’s my baby?”

I was frantic now as I stared at my ex-girlfriend.  The same ex-girlfriend who killed the life we made before it could even be born.

“What did you do to her?” I snarled with pure hatred.

“I did nothing,” Bippy smirked.  “Haley killed her.”

She laughed heartlessly at her statement before vanishing into thin air.  The baby’s cries stopped as soon as Bippy disappeared.

Her words made no sense to me.  Haley would never hurt someone intentionally—especially not an innocent child.  My girlfriend wouldn’t deceive me the way Bippy had.

Now, I could hear the sobbing of an adult.

Haley’s sobbing.

I turned around and she was sitting on the floor in hysterics.

“I’m so sorry, Jordan.  I can’t be with you anymore.”

I woke up startled.  My breathing was shallow and I turned to look at Haley lying next to me, thankful she was in my bed.  It was just a dream—no, a nightmare.  I wondered if there was any meaning behind it, but like I had told Haley when she kept having bad dreams about public nudity, it was just her anxiety.

Of course, her anxiety was obvious and on the surface.  She was afraid to stand up for herself and follow her heart.

I suppose I have anxiety, too, though I buried mine pretty deep; covering it with bitterness and brushing everything off with a swipe of my hand.

I will always feel a hole in my heart, knowing I could have been a father by now.  Somehow I thought having that child Bippy aborted five years ago would right all the wrongs my father did to me.  I would turn things around by being the complete opposite of a dad that Chuck Ashton was to me.  It was stupid, and I realize that, but my father and Bippy conspiring against me to secretly destroy my child will always cause me pain.

I placed my head down on the pillow and watched my girlfriend sleeping.  She healed my heart in so many ways and I’m so grateful for her.  I thought I was incapable of love.  Haley makes me feel alive inside, as much as I pretend to be on the outside.

-J.W.

Please post a comment below!  Sandy would love to hear feedback!

Recent Press for Sandy Lo

Recent Press for Sandy Lo

Pop Zine Online posted a great review of DREAM CATCHERS.  Be sure to read it and leave a comment.  Also, in support of Sandy’s book event at Starbucks in Hauppauge, NY, a local news website: www.hauppauge.patch.com interviewed her.  In the interview, Sandy discusses her message to her readers and her goals for the future of her writing.

Pop Zine Online: Book Review: Dream Catchers by Sandy Lo

Hauppauge Author Debuts Second Novel

Sandy Lo has been selected to appear in '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading', available Summer 2010

Sandy Lo has been selected to appear in '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading', available Summer 2010

The Authors Show is presenting a new book 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading, which spotlights 50 authors who have something unique.  Each author selected shares their personal story in the publication, which is now available for sale at: www.theauthorsshow.com.  Sandy Lo is honored to be chosen as one of the featured authors.  She was a guest on The Authors Show in 2009 to discuss her first novel “Lost In You” and since has gone on to release her second book, “Dream Catchers.”

Sandy would like to thank the creators of the book Danielle Hampson and Don McCauley.

Trashionista.com: New Interview with Sandy Lo +Giveaway

Trashionista.com: New Interview with Sandy Lo +Giveaway

August 20, 2010 10:10 PM

Trashionista.com

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sandy Lo (plus giveaway!)

We last spoke to Sandy Lo last year, about the release of her debut novel Lost In You. Sandy’s back, and this time she’s penned her second book, Dream Catchers. We spoke to her about this latest release, and what she’s been up to since her last interview!

Plus, Sandy Lo has three signed copies of Dream Catchers to give away! Simply send an email to the editor (elle.symonds [at] gmail.com) to be entered into the draw. Be sure to put ‘Dream Catchers’ in the subject heading. Good luck!

We last spoke to you early last year. What have you been up to?

Well, since we last spoke, I’ve done a few book events in New York, including an awesome release party in my hometown of Staten Island for “Dream Catchers” earlier this year. Along with “Dream Catchers”, I wrote a song for the book called “Haley’s Letter” which is available on iTunes under the band name Tortured. Other than that, I began my own web show with my friend called “The Sandy Squared Show”, where we discuss entertainment and feature new talent.

Tell us more about Dream Catchers.

“Dream Catchers” is like a romantic comedy for young adults. The main female character, Haley Foster, is a bit of an anxiety-ridden social misfit who is very wealthy and sheltered. She basically is bored with her life and doesn’t want to return home from college for the summer. She winds up getting on the wrong bus going home, loses her wallet and her cell phone and meets Jordan Walsh, a laidback musician who’s pretty much the opposite of her. They push each other’s buttons the entire bus ride until they’re stranded together. Jordan dares Haley to go with him to New York and break out of her rich girl bubble. She surprisingly takes the dare and learns how to finally live her only life and experiences her first love. For me, the book was so much to write and I’ve received great feedback from my readers saying how much they enjoyed the story and its characters. They also said they didn’t want it to end, which is why I’m currently writing the sequel!

What inspired you to write the book?

I actually wrote the first chapter in October 2001 while I was a freshman in college. So many of Haley’s emotions expressed in that chapter was what I was feeling at the time. I went on to find myself and what I truly wanted out of life and who I am over the past nine years. When I went back to writing the novel eight years later, I wanted to finish Haley’s journey of self-discovery. I wanted to prove dreams come true and it’s okay to chase them, or catch them when they come soaring by.

To read the rest of the interview, go to: http://www.trashionista.com/2010/08/author-interview-sandy-lo-plus-giveaway.html

Thanks Elle for the awesome interview and support :)

Pop Zine Online Reviews "Lost In You"!

Pop Zine Online Reviews "Lost In You"!

Boy bands: Most commonly comprised of 3-5 young and attractive guys who sing and dance about love and relationships. They were the obsession of many girls of my generation. I’m not going to lie, I was a fan. That is probably one of the main reasons I was interested in reading this novel. I wanted to see Sandy Lo’s take on this kind of story and I was quite impressed.

Lost In You is Sandy Lo’s debut into the writing world as far as novels go, but she also happens to be the President of Starshine Magazine, an online entertainment magazine with a focus on music. Her love of writing and music combined with having met some of the most prominent boy bands of our time led to Lost In You’s creation.

Read more at: http://popzineonline.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/book-review-lost-in-you-by-sandy-lo/

Thanks to Nevra Azerkan for the awesome review!

Follow Sandy Lo, Tortured & StarShineMag.com on Twitter!

Follow Sandy Lo, Tortured & StarShineMag.com on Twitter!

Connect with Sandy Lo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorsandylo.  Sandy updates followers on her novels, fun things she’s involved in, quotes, and events.

Connect with Tortured on Twitter: www.twitter.com/torturedband.  Interact with characters from Sandy’s novel “Dream Catchers” by replying to their tweets.  Jordan, Sebastian, Darren & Danny post what’s going on in their day as well as with the band.  Note: Sandy Lo is really the one tweeting as her characters.  Have some fun and follow Tortured!

Connect with StarShine Magazine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/starshinemag.  Get the latest entertainment news, interviews + reviews when StarShineMag.com is updated!

Help Get SANDY LO on THE ELLEN SHOW!

Help Get SANDY LO on THE ELLEN SHOW!

Hi Everyone!

If you haven’t heard, Ellen (yes, thee Ellen!) is following me on Twitter! This put a fire under my butt to try and get on her show! But I’ll need your help! Below I will list a few ways you can contact The Ellen Show. I would love it if you could do one or all of them to up my chances of getting noticed by Ellen’s producers!

What do you get out of it? Well, seeing me on TV + possibly hearing “Haley’s Letter” performed live. And a big HUG + thank you from me!

Contact Ellen:

TWITTER:
Reply to @TheEllenShow that you would love to see @AuthorSandyLo on the show. Tips: Mention “Dream Catchers”.

FACEBOOK:
Go to: www.facebook.com/ellentv. Write on Ellen’s wall that you’d like her to do a segment on me about my book “Dream Catchers”.

ELLEN’S WEBSITE: www.ellen.warnerbros.com/show/respond/?PlugID=10
Fill in all of the information and again tell her about me and why you think I should be featured.

Additional Tips: You can mention I’m a self-published author of 2 books and the editor of StarShine Magazine all before the age of 30. You can tell her about the song I wrote for “Dream Catchers”, “Haley’s Letter”, which is performed by James Manzello.

Thank you guys SO much! This means the world to me!

Hugs, Kisses & Stars,
Sandy Lo

Author Sandy Lo Interviews 30 Seconds To Mars, Her Inspiration Behind Latest Book Dream Catchers!

Author Sandy Lo Interviews 30 Seconds To Mars, Her Inspiration Behind Latest Book Dream Catchers!

April 27, 2010—New York, NY—Author and journalist SANDY LO had the opportunity to speak with the musical inspiration behind her latest novel, DREAM CATCHERS earlier this month. In an interview for StarShine Magazine, Lo spoke with Shannon Leto, founding member of the popular rock band, 30 SECONDS TO MARS. Upon discussing his latest tour, she was able to inform Leto of the impact his music has had on inspiring TORTURED, Lo’s band in the novel. Leto was grateful and thought it was “very cool”.

“I am so fortunate to be in the position I am in to speak with my musical muse for Dream Catchers”, explains Lo. “30 Seconds to Mars are really amazing.” Mars’ front man and actor, Jared Leto even inspired the main character, Jordan Walsh, a bit. “As a teenager, I was a fan of ‘My So-Called Life’ and fell in love with Jared’s character, Jordan Catalano, which is why I named my main character Jordan,” Lo shares.

Following her interview with Shannon Leto, Lo saw the band live for the first time on their “Into The Wild” tour to support their latest album This Is War. “I felt like my character, Haley, seeing Tortured perform for the first time,” she says with a smile. “30 Seconds to Mars really know how to put on a show.”

To read Sandy Lo’s interview with Shannon Leto and to see her review of the 30 Seconds to Mars show, go to: www.StarShineMag.com.

DREAM CATCHERS is available now through LuLu Press and is coming soon to other online retailers. Lo’s coming of age story of sheltered college student, Haley Foster, running off to New York City with the carefree musician, Jordan Walsh, has been receiving rave reviews from Amazon readers.

“I truly appreciate this realistic work of fiction that tells a personal story in an engaging way. Dream Catchers leaves you wanting more, well after you’ve read the last page!” gushes one reviewer.

Another reader commends SANDY LO on her characters: “Dream Catchers is told from the main character’s perspective, therefore allowing you to truly understand what she, Haley Foster, is thinking and feeling throughout the varied situations she is faced with. Many of the other characters are also fleshed out rather well, including Jordan Walsh, paragon of bad boy good looks and lead singer of the band Tortured. It appears that the author, Sandy Lo, wanted to tell a love story which was able to indulge the reader, while not coming across as overly predictable.”

To read an excerpt from DREAM CATCHERS and to order a copy, go to: www.sandy-lo.com or http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/dream-catchers/6137629.

Also, “Haley’s Letter”, the song written by SANDY LO for DREAM CATCHERS is now available on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/haleys-letter/id356084511! The song was also written, produced and performed by JAMES MANZELLO and co-produced by FRANS MERNICK.

For more on Sandy Lo: www.sandy-lo.com
Follow Sandy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorsandylo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsandylo

"Haley's Letter" Now On MySpace!

"Haley's Letter" Now On MySpace!

Check out the official Tortured MySpace page: www.myspace.com/torturedmusic to hear the official MP3 of “Haley’s Letter”!  The song is performed by James Manzello and was written by him and Sandy Lo for “Dream Catchers”.  James also produced the track with Frans Mernick, who also served as the engineer.

Sandy would love to hear what you think of the song!  Please leave feedback!

"Dream Catchers" Party Huge Success!

"Dream Catchers" Party Huge Success!

Sandy would like to thank everyone who came out on January 23rd for the “Dream Catchers” release party at Cargo Cafe!  Photos will be posted in the gallery soon.  A big thank you to all those who were able to perform: Harlem Witness, Darren Colvil & Chris of The Swill Merchants and of course, the ever so talented James Manzello & Alex Kikis, who debuted “Haley’s Letter” for the first time!  The song will be available for purchase soon.  Look out for a YouTube video of the performance up here as well.

Thanks to Jeff Timmons for the sweet video message he sent for the party.  You can view it here:

As a reminder, you can find “Dream Catchers” on sale at lulu.com!  Here’s a direct link: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/dream-catchers/7869073.

If you have already read “Dream Catchers”, please review it on Amazon.com.  The book will be available there as well within a few weeks.

“Dream Catchers” on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Catchers-Sandy-Lo/dp/055722604X/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1