When did you start writing in general, and what made you first want to be a writer? I started writing when I was in the second grade, I think, when we started reading bigger books in school. Starting reading from such a young age really did spark that love of writing for me. I loved the idea of being able to create your own stories, and I just fell in love!
What made you want to do self-publishing versus traditional, and do you think you made the right choice? Honestly, I really wanted to do the traditional route at first. I was actually accepted by a pretty big publishing company in my genre, was in conversation about edits for about a year, and then was ultimately told “never mind.” It was crushing! However, I still knew that I wanted to get this book out into the world, and I didn’t want to do another round of querying and probable rejections. I didn’t want to wait on making my dream happen, so I decided on the self-publishing route!
Any brief advice for people who might want to self-publish? Be prepared for some hard work! I think all aspects of publishing are hard, self-publishing or traditional publishing, but with self-publishing, everything falls on you. Marketing, writing, editing--it’s a lot, and it can be overwhelming at first. But you’ve got this!
What inspired your plot for If the Broom Fits? I really loved all the Christmas romances that came out around December, and since autumn is my favorite season, I would’ve LOVED to have read a romance set in the fall time. I figured why not write it myself!
Are there any authors in particular that you get writing inspiration from? It’s funny that most of the authors I get inspiration from aren’t in my genre. Like Cassandra Claire, Maggie Stiefvater, Jennifer L. Armentrout. I love their writing styles and their unique stories and really get inspired when I read their books!
I know Blaire doesn’t like the Halloween season, but how do you feel about it? I LOVE Halloween! I always think it’s so funny that I wrote a character who absolutely dislikes Halloween (for a very good reason on her part!), but I absolutely love the season and the holiday.
Blaire drinks her coffee black, like an insane person. How do you like your coffee? I actually like it iced with milk and sugar! SO good!
How long did it take you to work on If the Broom Fits, from start to publication day? I started ITBF in October 2019 because I really wanted to write a book set in the fall time. It took exactly a year from start to finish!
Who is your cover designer? Megan Keith at Designed with Grace
Without giving spoilers, what was the hardest scene for you to write in If the Broom Fits, and why? I don’t want to give too many spoilers, and I think the hardest scene to write might give them away, but the hardest aspect of this story to write was the depth of Blaire’s grief. She’s gone through something so horrible and crazy, and she’s having to push herself through it. A lot of people think she’s a very pessimistic person, an angsty teenager--which she is!--but the reasoning behind her pessimism was so hard to capture thoroughly and realistically. I really enjoyed that challenge!
What are the other books you already have out, and are you working on anything new at the moment? I have four other YA Romances out right now, all in the standalone romance series called LOVE IN FENTON COUNTY! The book that’s coming next is called CHRISTMAS AS WE KNOW IT and that’s about a girl whose entire Christmas holiday is turned upside down. It’s coming out December 1st!
Where can people find you, your writing, and your books?
You can find me on Facebook and Instagram @SarahMaeSutton or on YouTube under the name Author Sarah Sutton! My books are all available on Amazon and all in Kindle Unlimited! (:
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