Maw Books Blog

If you missed my book reviews of Story of a Girl and Sweethearts hop on over and read them here and here first.  Then come back here for a wonderful author interview with Sara Zarr.

Maw Books:  Welcome Sara!  It’s been a treat to discover both of your books this year.  Let’s see if I can ask any questions that you haven’t already answered more than a billion times.

Why did you decide to become an author?  Did you know that’s what you always wanted to do?  And what was it like when you finally realized that you’d made it big time?

Sara Zarr:  It’s almost impossible for me to pinpoint an exact moment I decided that I wanted to be an author.  It was a dream that evolved over years and years of loving books and reading and stories.  I do know that I was about twenty-five when I completed my first novel - then I spent the next ten years writing a few more before I sold Story of a Girl.  Honestly, I don’t feel “big time.  I’m aware and grateful that I have a career.  Even that is hard to really believe sometimes.  But I don’t feel like I’ve crossed a finish line in any way.  If anything, I feel like I’ve just started!

Maw Books:   How did you come up with the ideas of both Sweethearts and Story of a Girl?  In other words, how did the stories evolve for you?

Sara Zarr:  Both stories started with characters.  That’s usually the beginning of inspiration for me - people in my head who interest me. Deanna in Story of a Girl was a side character in an earlier, unpublished book, and she just intrigued me and I wanted to find out, and then tell, her story.  Sweethearts was a bit more personal, and is based on a friendship I have with a childhood friend. Nothing that happens to Jenna and Cameron in that book actually happened to me or my friend, but the story started with our friendship and grew from the “what if?” questions that anyone with an imagination asks herself when she sees something in life that grabs her attention—a new story, a relationship, a person on the street, etc. That’s how all stories begin, I think.  What if?

Maw Books:  What has been the best thing about doing what you love the most?

Sara Zarr:  The interaction that I get to have with readers and other writers, and all of the people who make up the children’s literature community — teachers, librarians, editors, and adult fans of YA.  All those folks are supportive and genuinely enthusiastic about what we do.  From what I gather, it’s not like any other community of people in the publishing world.

Maw Books:  Who is your favorite author that you’ve been able to meet and what was it like?

Sara Zarr:  Oh, I’ve been able to meet so many writers I admire, it would be impossible to name one.  I think the best part has been meeting the authors I didn’t know about before, and discovering their work and how great they are as people.  Also I love getting to know writers who are up and coming.  It’s in those friendships I feel like my ten years of struggling to get published might actually be of some use!

Maw Books:  Do you have any favorite books that you’ve read this year that you could recommend?

Sara Zarr:  In YA, Tara Altebrando’s What Happens Here is great. I’m also very excited about a book coming out this fall by debut author Emily Wing Smith. It’s called The Way He Lived; I think it’s really special.

Maw books:  I see The Way He Lived is by a Utah author.  I’m going to check that one out for sure!  I’ve begun to ask authors to share a favorite recipe with us.  Would you care to share? 

Sara Zarr:  This isn’t a recipe, exactly, but it’s one third of what I have for breakfast nearly every morning. The other two thirds are whole grain toast with natural peanut butter, and coffee! I’m a breakfast lover and advocate, and think the world would be a happier, healthier place if everyone had a good breakfast. And so:

Favorite Smoothie
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/3-1/2 cup frozen unsweetened blueberries, or some other fresh or frozen fruit. (Peaches and strawberries are a nice combo.)
1/4 medium banana
1/2 cup cranberry-pomegranate juice
 
Put all in a blender and…blend! Drink, and have a fabulous day.

Maw Books:  Yummy!  I love the cranberry-pomegranate juice.  We always have frozen fruit stocked in the fridge.  I love smoothies!  What are you currently working on now? 

Sara Zarr:  I’m about to embark on revisions of my third book for Little, Brown. It doesn’t have a title yet, but it should be out in late 2009 or early 2010.

Maw Books:  I’ll be first in line to read it.  Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule for this great interview, especially as you were packing up to return back home to Utah after a summer away.

Sara Zarr:  Thanks for having me!

And because I can (again):

So, while you are reading this, I’ll actually be chatting to Sara in person, again!  I hope to bring you some great photos and commentary.

Visit Sara Zarr’s website here.  KUTV, one of our local new stations just published a lengthy review with Sara yesterday.  Check it out.