So in true Sarah fashion, it seemed like a good idea to make the kissing scene in Illusion of Stars spicier and NOT SHOW ANYONE until the book was published. I forget what originally gave me the idea. I was working on finalizing the book (after it had gone through copy edits and three rounds of proofreading) and somehow hit my head and awoke with a spicier kissing scene. I told this to a few choice friends: "Send it to me." -My friend and book coach Jourdan Gandy "Send it to me." -Alex...
11 months ago • 2 min read
I have a confession: I have been trying to lose followers on TikTok. It started off organically. I just wasn't posting enough to make myself grow and people naturally trickle off if you're not around. Then, as I watched the numbers drop lower and lower, it morphed into a morbid sort of curiosity: If I get below 1,000 followers, will I lose the link in bio feature? (The link in bio feature is only available to people with over 1,000 followers and I was hovering right around 1,115.) (Also, I...
12 months ago • 3 min read
Okay Reader, You know those book fairs I'll sometimes link to in my emails? Well, I got a bee in my bonnet: what would happen if I actually hosted one?My reasoning was as follows: 1. I like aesthetics 2. I wanted to play godSo I set up my own book fair booth, put out a call for submissions and... waited. Do you know what happened? Chaos. *Buzz* You have a new submission: Surprise Pregnancy with Seven Aliens *Buzzzzzz* You have a new submission: Kid Max - Superhero in Outer Space *BUZZZZZZ*...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Reader, In my last newsletter I said I didn't find Adam Driver attractive. Two seconds after sending it, my writer friend, Alex, sent me this: Alex's enraged message I told her that yes, I *personally* am not attracted to Adam Driver and kindly pointed out that the unsubscribe button is at the bottom. She said (and I quote): "I will stay, but I will not stand for slander of my personal lord and savior." I might have then, erm, poked the bear. I sent her this: Crudely drawn with my thumb She...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, My friend, Caitlin, likes ugly men. No, I’m not being mean. She actually admits this. See? I find this handsome. She likes this. And this. I’m sorry to all the Adam Driver and Johnny Flynn fans I offended. The unsubscribe button is at the bottom. FOR THE REST OF US, Sometimes I feel the same way about covers. I check the Goodreads. Everyone is like “OMGGGG THIS COVER” and I’m like "....I hate it, thanks." I seem to like the covers no one ever comments on. Here's the thing. I'm...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, My friend, Caitlin, likes ugly men. No, I’m not being mean. She actually admits this. See? I find this handsome. She likes this. And this. I’m sorry to all the Adam Driver and Johnny Flynn fans I offended. The unsubscribe button is at the bottom. FOR THE REST OF US, Sometimes I feel the same way about covers. I check the Goodreads. Everyone is like “OMGGGG THIS COVER” and I’m like "....I hate it, thanks." I seem to like the covers no one ever comments on. Here's the thing. I'm...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I got a really nice compliment about my Thousand Day Queen short story. Here's what it said: "Sarah, you're a fantastic writer. I would read anything you write, even your grocery list." My grocery list? Well, alright... My grocery list Proof that authors' grocery lists are just as boring as you think. Not very sexy. Look, "mangoes" is even spelled wrong. I never said I was perfect. If you do want sexy, here's Erik from my (yet-to-be-published) book House of Smoke. He's pretty sexy....
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, HUSBAND: So my work colleague is subscribed to your newsletter. She's really loving your emails. Apparently, you're sassy? ME: *watching a video of a cat at the chiropractor and only half paying attention* Excellent. Glad she likes them. Yes, I am sassy. HUSBAND: *rings hands and gets shifty-eyed* There's only one problem... ME: Yes? HUSBAND: She says she doesn't know what you write. Like, do you only write short stories? Do you write full-length novels? She says she's not sure....
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, HUSBAND: So my work colleague is subscribed to your newsletter. She's really loving your emails. Apparently, you're sassy? ME: *watching a video of a cat at the chiropractor and only half paying attention* Excellent. Glad she likes them. Yes, I am sassy. HUSBAND: *rings hands and gets shifty-eyed* There's only one problem... ME: Yes? HUSBAND: She says she doesn't know what you write. Like, do you only write short stories? Do you write full-length novels? She says she's not sure....
over 1 year ago • 2 min read