Sarah Varland Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.  

A.  I live in Georgia with my husband, our two boys, and two dogs.

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

A. I think I’ve been a writer as far back as I can remember. But it was in middle school when we started taking different career aptitude tests that my mom pointed out that I could work within my strengths and be a writer.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?  

A. I sent in my first query letter at age eighteen, went to my first ACFW Conference at nineteen, and then spent years receiving rejection letters, trying to quit writing (that doesn’t ever work for long if you’re really supposed to be a writer!), working on various stories, and attending more conferences. I received my first contract with Love Inspired Suspense after participating in a “Speed Dating” contest where the editors looked at a one hundred word pitch and decided how much of the story/proposal they wanted to see. They wanted the full manuscript for what is now called Treasure Point Secrets so I finished it and sent it in!

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Treasure Point Secrets? Sure! But since I’m notoriously bad at conversationally discussing my book and what it’s about, here’s basically the hundred word pitch that got the manuscript noticed. I think it summarizes it pretty well. =)

When Shiloh Evans’ police officer cousin is murdered, Shiloh quits her history teaching job and becomes a cop in Treasure Point, Georgia. The secrets of the case that killed her cousin are buried in Georgia’s pirate history and as Shiloh struggles to unearth them, the threat against her resurfaces, along with the man who broke her heart. Adam Cole is the town’s new pastor and police chaplain. When he’s assigned to ride with Shiloh she must forget the past and trust Adam because he’s the only one who can help her discover the murderer’s identity before it’s too late.

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Treasure Point Secrets?

A: A lot of my inspiration came from the general setting of southern coastal Georgia. There’s an atmosphere there, where Spanish moss hangs from the trees, that seems to whisper that there are stories the land is hiding

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

A: I think what I hope the most is that if they relate to Shiloh and her struggle against fear at all that they learn, as she did, that God doesn’t want us to live in fear. He wants us to live fully and freely, trusting in Him.

Q: What is your favorite scene/chapter from the book?

A: Ooooh, that’s tough! I really like the scene where the criminals break into Shiloh’s house. It creeped me out a little when I was writing it. Haha.

Q: What inspires you to write?  

A. I think that depends on the day. Sometimes it’s the fact that I love it. Some days it’s because I know it’s one of the ways I get to let God use me.

Q: How has being a published novelist differed from your expectations of the profession?  

A: I don’t know what expectations I had, but it’s been more fun and more work than I imagined all the same time. I genuinely have loved every step of the process.

Q: What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?

A: Enjoy it! That’s the advice I most wish I could pass on. Every stage of writing is different. Don’t waste the one you’re in by envying someone else’s. As far as practical tips, join a writing group like ACFW and make writing friends. They’ll listen to you talk about your characters like they’re real and call you out for being on facebook when you said you were going to write. Go to conferences. Read. And make sure you go out and live life too—take breaks from writing/blogging/building your online presence to do things or you won’t have anything to write about.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?  

A. Right now I’m waiting to hear back on a proposal. So while I try not to think about that I’m brainstorming ideas for a few books set in the Florida Keys.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?  

A. When I’m not writing I spend a lot of time chasing around the world’s cutest little boys. One is three and one is eighteen months and they keep me pretty busy. But when I get the chance I also love reading, hiking, baking (Although I’m not so great at cooking dinner. What’s up with that?), and kayaking.

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet? 

A. The best place to find me is on facebook! You can find my personal blog at espressoinalatteworld.blogspot.com and I also blog on a group writing blog. That one is scribblechicks.blogspot.com and even if I don’t have brilliant and funny things to say, the other ladies on it do. =) I’m also on Pinterest, in case you’re curious about what I’m theoretically cooking for dinner or which cool crafts I may or may not get around to doing…