Why did you start writing? Was there a specific moment where you decided to put pen to paper or words to a screen?
I started writing around the age of 10 when my teacher urged me to do creative writing in my spare time in class. As a teenager, I knew one day I wanted to write a book. Once my children were school age, I started getting serious about writing a book.
What has been your hardest challenge this year?
I have had a hard time keeping a routine with everyone being home a lot. We decided to homeschool our children, so it’s a completely different home dynamic than I was used to before the pandemic.
The book market has never been so tough as it is now. What advice would you give to aspiring authors to stand out from the crowd?
I think the easiest way to stand out is by having dynamic characters and creating a story that takes the reader away from his or her own life while reading. Also, having edited copy with no typos and grammar issues always makes a book seem polished.
What’s been your favourite book that you’ve read this year?
One of my favorite books this year was The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick. It’s a historical fiction book about the House of Mercy where unruly girls were sent to learn to be good. However, it was just a front for slave labor. I learned a lot from that book. I’m always amazed by learning historical events about my country that I hadn’t learned about before.
Other than your own, which BLKDOG title would you recommend?
I really enjoyed reading On A Falling Tide by Georgia Hill. It was a nice mix of realism, romance and a bit of fantasy.
A mystery basket turns up on your doorstep. Would you prefer it contained a dog or a cat?
A cat! I am definitely a cat person!
Do you have a book in your mind that you know you’ll probably never actually write?
I do and I think most writers do and it often has to do with telling your own story or your family’s story. It’s just too personal to share with the world.
Which famous author do you most admire?
I admire Richard Paul Evans. He writes great stories that tell great life lessons. I always enjoy reading his books. He also tries to reach out to his community and help people and writers. He also helps children with his Christmas Box charity.
Which book have you read which you feel deserves much more acclaim that it has received?
There are a lot of non-fiction books I would highly recommend, but for fiction, I think Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is a must-read. It’s the first historical fiction book I’ve come across set in the Russian gulags. I think it’s important for people to learn more about that part of history.
One of your books suddenly sells a million copies, how do you react?
I would first double check that it was real and then I would probably run around the house excited! We would celebrate as a family and then I’d get back to writing another book.
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Books by Sarah Anne Carter
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Sarah Anne Carter is a lover of books. She is an avid reader and is a book review blogger. Writing stories since she was little, she is constantly thinking of ideas that could be used as a plot for a novel. She is a journalist by trade and has written numerous newspaper articles. She has also worked in the public relations and marketing fields. She grew up as an Air Force brat and has lived in many states and countries. Currently residing in Ohio, she spends her time enjoying her family, reading and writing. She is a lover of travel and cats.
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