Friday, July 16, 2010

WQI with Sara J. Henry: Learning to Swim

Welcome to another World's Quickest Interview!


This time I'm delighted to have Sara J. Henry, author of the novel Learning to Swim (available for sale in February, 2011, but up for preorder on Amazon now!) here to answer my questions in 140 characters or less. Sara blogs over at Sara in Vermont.  I hope after reading her interview you're as excited to read her book as I am.

Please describe your book.
A woman dives into a lake to rescue a small boy, who turns out to speak only French –and who no one seems to be missing.

How long have you been writing?
Since I could first form words on paper – I wrote my first short story (less than a page – I guess you could call it flash fiction) when I was 5.

Who or what was your inspiration?
A house filled with books.

How long did it take you to write this book?
About seven months – the first time. Then I had to learn to rewrite, which at first involved a lot of staring at the pages.

Besides writing, what is your favorite thing to do?
Reading. Many other things run a close second, but books are always there, and can fit any mood.

All-expenses-paid vacation: where would you go?
Australia, this time without broken foot and book to be rewritten (during a five-week house swap) and New Zealand. Or the south of France.

What’s your favorite color and why?
Black, because it goes with everything – I’m shopping impaired.

Lunch with anyone: who would you choose?
My dad, if he could come back from the Great Beyond. I’d show him this book, and thank him for letting me read his Travis McGees.

Cat or dog?
Dog. Without a doubt. (See photo.) They seem to find me.

Any advice for aspiring writers?
Read a lot. Don’t be afraid to rewrite and cut. Read your work aloud – preferably to someone else. And keep working at it until it’s really good.

And that's it, folks! Quick, huh?

Thank you, Sara! We're cheering you on, and I can't wait to read your book. I got the chance to read the first couple sentences during a Miss Snark's First Victim critique session and have been salivating ever since.

Take care, everyone, and have a great weekend!

11 comments:

  1. Thanks, Amy and Sara. I've seen Sara's comments on other people's work over at MSFV and been impressed by it. I'll have to check this one out.

    Amy, I've said it once, and I'll say it again: These interviews are fantastic. Looking forward to your next one.

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  2. Agree with Krista V. Love these interviews....so fun!

    Can't wait to read this book as well.

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  3. Thank YOU, Amy - you rock. This was lots of fun. And for those who cannot resist, here's a tiny sample of my novel - and a great video review by the incomparable writer and blogger Quinn Cummings. (And I think I've just surpassed the maximum number of URL links permissible in one sentence.)

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  4. Great interview! I cannot wait to read this book, and Sara is made of awesomesauce. It's so nice to know that I am not the only person in the world who prefers black due to shopping impairment.

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  5. Nice interview, Ladies! Best wishes on your (upcoming) release of Learning to Swim, Sara!

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  6. Groovacious interview, Sara!

    But then LEARNING TO SWIM is a magnificent book.

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  7. Great interview and that book is now on my list!

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  8. Thank you, Amy, Sharon, Cat, and Catherine! (Cat was kind enough to read my manuscript very quickly last year when I sent out a panicky call for last-minute readers before submission.)

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  9. Thanks for all the great comments, everyone. And thanks for the links, Sara. Reading the beginning of your book makes me even more excited for it to come out. Thanks again for the interview!

    Amy

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  10. I would like to exchange links with your site www.blogger.com
    Is this possible?

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