Meet author Sandra Bretting

Sandra Bretting is the author of a bestselling cozy mystery series that ran for five years with Kensington Publishing of New York, as well as three standalone mysteries and an inspirational memoir. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, she began her career writing for the Los Angeles Times and other publications.  From 2006 until 2016, she wrote feature stories for the award-winning business section of the Houston Chronicle. 

Tell us about your newest book.

When the U. S. military adopted a new test from France called the “intelligence quotient test” during World War 1, no one expected the turmoil it would cause. Thousands of immigrants failed the test and were forced to return to their war-ravaged homelands. Unfit to Serve is the fictionalized account of one schoolmarm’s quest to right this wrong by creating a better test. In the end, the U.S. military did adopt a second version of the IQ test, but only after it destroyed thousands of lives.

What inspired you to write Unfit to Serve?

I came across a story of how the IQ test really came to America, and I kept wondering why it took the government an entire year to come up with a better test for recruits who didn’t speak English.  I couldn’t stop thinking about the men (and the families) it affected.

How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?

When a shy schoolmarm moves to an Army outpost with her husband during World War 1, she’s appalled at the bigotry leveled at foreign recruits. The Army requires all recruits to pass an IQ test; even those who can’t read the questions on the page. The school teacher secretly works to make a better test that levels the playing field.

What genre do you focus on?

I used to write a cozy mystery series, but I didn’t like the tight deadlines imposed by that genre. I need at least a year to come up with a good manuscript, and standalone novels give me that extra time. Plus, I really enjoy history, and now I get to do research to my heart’s content.

Why do you write?

I think God created me with an empathetic personality, and I’ve always been curious about the lives of others. My husband calls it “an innate curiosity.” God also instilled in me the need and the ability to capture what I see and translate it into words.

Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?

Josephine Pembroke is the schoolmarm who winds up at a dusty military outpost in San Antonio. I thought the name captures the period (early 1900s) and her upper-class upbringing very well. Of course, her friends call her Jo, and I like that too.

What is the hardest part of being an author?

I think the hardest part about being an author is the uncertainty. I constantly ask myself whether I’ve written something compelling enough for my readers. So much is outside an author’s control (for example, I don’t get a say on the cover art or publication timeline) and that not knowing can be stressful.

What’s the best part of your author’s life?

The best part for me is interacting with readers. I love to talk about books, both my own and others, with people who love good stories. Their enthusiasm for my characters warms my heart and compels me to keep writing.

What’s one unusual fact about you?

I grew up in a Dutch household, and our Christmas featured Sinterklaas instead of Santa Claus.

What is your favorite pastime?

When I’m not writing, I like to hike with my husband and rescue dog through the hills behind our home in Colorado Springs.

What are you working on now?

My next book will feature a real-life artist who helped wounded soldiers during World War 1. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll leave it at that.

Website: www.sandrabretting.com

Link to book:

Social media links:

Twitter: @sandrabretting1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraBrettingBooks/