Sandra K. Marshall - from TWA Overhaul to Romance Mystery Writer

Welcome mystery romance author, Sandra K. Marshall.
SKM: Thank you for having me here, Amber.

AMBER: Sandra, tell me about your relationship to flying and aviation.
SKM:  I worked 36 years for Trans World Airlines (TWA) and retired in 1999 to write full time. The first ten years at TWA was spent at the administration building in data entry. In 1973, I was promoted to maintenance coordinating clerk at the Kansas City overhaul base.A few years later, I was promoted to work controller in building II (engine overhaul) where I worked for four years before getting bumped to the building I shops.

I arrived at the overhaul base during a time when women weren’t considered equal to men (still aren’t in my opinion). My first indicator of this was when my boss, while I was a maintenance coordinating clerk, gave me my yearly evaluation and raise. This man treated me like a daughter, and he told me that I was doing a good job even better than some of the guys. Did you hear but? Lol  He told me that because the men had families to support he had to give them the bigger raises.  Back then I didn’t fight for my rights like I do today.

Over in building II, I worked with a planner who didn’t want a woman work controller. He thought women should be teachers (his wife was a teacher), secretaries or in an office environment. This guy told me if I wasn’t able to pick up a heavy hub by myself that I shouldn’t be a work controller. I did it to prove to him I could. Later, I was shown a notice by one of the lead mechanics telling everyone they weren’t to pick up parts over a certain weight by themselves. They were supposed to have two people lift them.

As a work controller in building I hangar, my supervisor believed women were every bit as capable of higher positions as men (he had several daughters).  He became my mentor, and I appreciated the extra jobs he gave me to demonstrate my capabilities. There were a lot of good people at the overhaul base and just a few rotten apples.

In the last positions I held at TWA, I was responsible for keeping track of the paperwork that proved the maintenance on parts and planes were completed per FAA requirements.  The paperwork was checked and rechecked by many people before it was put away.  TWA always went above the guidelines for maintenance set by the FAA.

AMBER: What kinds of books do you like to read, Sandra?  
SKM:The books I like best are mystery romances.

AMBER: What are your favorite flying books?
SKM: For flying related books, I would choose anything about the life of Amelia Earhart.  She was a wonderful role model for all young women. Anyone who happens to be visiting the Kansas City area might like to visit the Airline History Museum.  Nearby in Atchison, Kansas is the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum 

AMBER: Sandra, tell us about your books.
SKM: Amber, I have written so many books over the years that haven’t been published.  One day, I’ll go back to the book of my heart that is set at the overhaul base. The first book, I had published was The Catalyst. Carolyn Madison was raped by her husband, and then divorced him. She has to learn to deal with her experience and to take charge of her life including the running of her family’s riverboat casinos.  This is a family women’s fiction heavy with mystery and romance.
My latest book is Addiction.the second book in a trilogy and is about Carolyn’s oldest daughter.

Jolene Dubois, a gorgeous woman, who has huge self-esteem issues along with alcohol addiction. Jolene is head of marketing at her family owned riverboat casino. Unknowing to her, she has caught the attention of a serial killer.

The hero is Jake Farrell, a blue-eyed, black-haired Irishman. He has been following a serial killer through several states, but has always been one step behind him. It is Jake’s goal to teach Jolene to love and respect herself while trying to keep her alive.

My next book is a follow up to Addiction and is titled, The Deceived. It’s about Jolene’s sister, Melanie. Mel isn’t happy with what the riverboat casinos are doing to people. She wants to save them from their gambling addiction. She joins a group of protestors that picket in front of the casinos.                                              

AMBER: Thanks so much, Sandra, for visiting Heads in the Clouds.

SKM: Once again, thanks for having me, Amber. This brought some good and bad memories back for me.

Sandra K. Marshall belongs to three writing organizations, Romance Writers of America (RWA), Mid-America Romance Authors (MARA) and Wisconsin RWA (WISRWA).  She describes her writing career as difficult, long and tedious. After twenty years she has found a home and a fantastic editor. 
To learn more about Sandra K  Marshall, visit her website   
Or her blog

Addiction can be purchased as an ebook from Eirelander Publishing  It will be available in print March 1st.  

 

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