Sandi grew up in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, an area just outside Philadelphia. From a young age, she was surrounded by some of the oldest houses and buildings in the United States, along with numerous historical reminders of 18th-century life in America. This exposure nurtured her deep fascination for all aspects of the past: events, fashion, mannerisms, houses—also words and language. Sandi earned a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University, majoring in Biology and English, and pursued graduate work in leadership development. She began her career as a research scientist before transitioning to a long career in human resources for one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. Her focus on people and their behavior has significantly informed the character development in her novels.
One of Sandi's favorite historical periods is the sixteenth century, especially the English Tudor dynasty. She finds the dynamics of Henry VIII's court incredibly intriguing and impassioned, with a particular fascination for the breathtaking life of Henry’s second queen, Anne Boleyn. Her study of Anne’s relationship with Henry Tudor, King of England, inspired her sweeping novel Truth Endures: Anne Boleyn’s Memoirs.
In striking detail, Anne tells the story of her love affair with Henry, a brilliant but ultimately tragic match. Sandi is deeply committed to researching her books using original sources, and she has been fortunate enough to visit many sites frequented by her stories’ heroes. Viewing actual letters and documents they touched, wrote, and read is a thrill she finds hard to describe. Whenever possible, she examines objects that belonged to these historical figures so many centuries ago. One of her most unforgettable experiences was holding the beautiful Book of Hours in which Anne and Henry wrote messages of love to one another. Perhaps most exhilarating were the two opportunities she had in the Papal Archives of the Vatican Library to view the original love letters Henry penned to Anne over 480 years ago.
Sandi's detective work in the British Library Archives led her to uncover surprising new information about a mysterious letter believed by many to have been authored by Anne while she was imprisoned in the Tower of London awaiting execution. These discoveries, along with new information about Henry's deathbed regret over his treatment of Anne, are detailed in the new edition of her nonfiction book, Anne Boleyn’s Letter From the Tower. Her novel Pursuing A Masterpiece is a captivating story about a lost but coveted portrait of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. The elusive painting is desperately sought by the brilliant but insecure Ph.D. student, Zara Rossi. Zara's epic journey, spanning time and place, compels her to fulfill a lifelong dream.
Sandi is always happy to discuss the time periods, characters, theories, or research that contribute to her books. She welcomes comments and questions via social media and looks forward to hearing from readers.
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