Welcome, Sara! What 5 things should readers know about you?
- I love musical theatre
- I love doing jigsaws
- We live by the beach and I go for a walk on the beach twice a day
- I am addicted to TV
- I’m addicted to chocolate
I’m so jealous over #3—lucky you!
Tell us all about your main characters—who are they? What makes them tick? Most importantly, what one thing would they need to have with them if stranded on a desert isle? 😉
Ruby Davis – is a warm and funny person. She’s the sort of girl that everyone likes. Although she’ll do anything for the people she cares about, she won’t allow herself to be put upon. If stranded on a desert isle she’d take with her smart phone so she could listen to music and read books.
Drew Scott – is insular and wrapped up in his own life. He can’t forgive himself for what he sees is the ultimate betrayal. He believes he deserves everything that life throws at him. Before the accident he was a fun, outgoing character. We see glimpses of this throughout the book and at the end. If stranded on a desert isle he’d take with him a large supply of chocolate cake.
Wow, I can’t wait to meet them!
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
I was watching the news one day and saw a story about a young guy who’d been burned badly in a fire and it got me wondering how he’d cope with life from that moment on.
Interesting… 🙂
How long have you been writing, and what (or who) inspired you to start?
I’ve been writing fiction for 12 years. I’ve always read a lot and it seemed a natural progression.
Great! I’m so glad it’s worked out for you.
What do you like best about being a writer? What is the most challenging part?
I like most about being a writer is that I get to make up stories and explore the depth of human emotions. I put them in awful situations and see how they’ll cope. The most challenging part of being a writer is knowing when to stop editing. Every time I look at a page I see something I’d like to change. That’s okay if it’s before the book has come out. Not good when the book is published and I can’t do anything about it.
Oh goodness, yes—I totally agree about the editing. It’s so hard to stop!
What are you working on right now? What can readers look for from you in the next year?
I’m working on the first in a series of YA novellas called Murder in Mind. The first one will be out in an anthology at the end of the year. It will also come out separately. It’s called Running out of Time.
Fantastic—can’t wait!
What authors and/or books have inspired you?
Elizabeth Scott’s Living Dead Girl was a book that really inspired me. Especially with my book In The Blood, which is a very dark story featuring a guy who has to deal with the consequences of his dad being found guilty of the murder and abuse of 5 young boys.
It’s in my TBR 🙂
What are you currently reading? What are your thoughts about it so far?
I’m currently reading an adult book The Girl in the Spider’s Web. It’s the fourth in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. Thoughts so far…. I’m not sure. I loved the other books.
Ahhh…we just got that in at our library. I’m still trying to decide if I’m going to give it a go or not…
If you had to “sell” this book in a single Tweet, what would you say?
What do you do when you’re torn between family and the love of your life?
Perfect!
Sara Hantz originally comes from the UK and is one of four children, having three younger brothers. Although she was an avid reader from a very early age, she didn’t get the writing bug until much later in life, though English was always one of her stronger subjects. She’s an avid sun chaser and now lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Australia (via 10 years in New Zealand). She writes young adult fiction and her debut book The Second Virginity of Suzy Green was published by Flux Books and made the prestigious list ‘New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age’. Sara has a PhD in Education and lectured for many years before deciding to devote more time to her writing and working in the family hospitality business. She has two grown-up children and w hen not writing, working or online with her friends, she spends more time than most people she knows watching TV – in fact if TV watching was an Olympic sport she’d win gold.
Ruby Davis has a crush on her brother’s best friend. At least, he was his bestie until the big betrayal. Now Drew is off limits to everyone, especially Ruby. She can’t stand the way people treat him, or the way he feels about himself. It isn’t right. And those deep green eyes are calling to her.
Drew is scarred and damaged, and he has no business even looking at Ruby. But he can’t help himself. She’s beautiful, but he does his best to stay away. When they are assigned a school project, they become reluctant friends – even though they want so much more.
She’s torn between her feelings for Drew and loyalty to her brother. There’s no way they can ever be together…but love just might find a way.