Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara B. Larson.
Sara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been a storyteller. My grandma told me I was telling stories as soon as I could talk. I started writing them down the minute I learned how. I have a Little Mermaid notebook from second and third grade full of “books”–many of which were quite precocious for someone that young. Such as the one I wrote while my mom was pregnant, about a woman who gave birth prematurely and eventually baby died. (Apparently, I was also willing to kill off favorite characters from a young age, as well.)
As a teenager, I dreamed of being published. In fact, I wanted to be the youngest person to ever publish a book… the problem was I had no idea how to accomplish that dream. (And the internet was still pretty new, so there was no help there yet.) It wasn’t until I was married and had my first son that my husband asked me if there was anything I used to do that I missed now that I was a mom. The answer came to me immediately: I missed writing books.
He had no idea what that one question would trigger: countless hours of writing, editing, and revising. Hundreds of queries (and rejections). Writing conferences and author events. Signing with one agent after two and half years of querying. Staying with her for two years before finally getting the courage to part ways–after knowing for over a year that we weren’t a good fit to work together. Followed by 9 more months of querying (two separate books) and amassing even more rejections.
And then I wrote DEFY–a YA fantasy that came out of the deepest depths of my own grief and pain after losing a close family member to cancer at 24. DEFY is a story about a girl disguised as a boy, who is the personal guard of a prince she hates in a jungle kingdom rife with danger and concealed power.
But it is also the story of how to press on through loss, fear, and grief, how to find courage and strength when you don’t think you have any left. And, it’s a romance, too–a story about a love that can shine light into those dark places and give you the strength you might lack, I had an offer from an agent less than 24 hours after I sent out my first batch of queries f0r DEFY, signed with my second agent a week later, and sold it to Scholastic a month after that.
Finally, after years and years of hard work, holding on to hope through heartache and doubt, I was getting published! DEFY came out on January 7, 2014. I have since published 7 YA fantasy books–the DEFY trilogy, the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN doulogy, and the SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT doulogy.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I had a long road to get published (as I briefly touched on before); there were many times when I was heartbroken and thought it might never happen. But even after I sold DEFY it wasn’t all easy. I pitched a different book to my publisher after DEFY which they rejected. Thankfully, after that, they bought DARK BREAKS THE DAWN (a fantasy reimagining of Swan Lake). And then, I actually ended up switching publishers for SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT.
Publishing is NEVER smooth. Not even for the best-sellers. No matter how many books you’ve published, there is never a guarantee that you will publish anymore. The industry itself is in major flux right now. Major houses are combining, B&N is cutting hardcover stock at their stores, there is still a paper shortage, and book piracy continues to be a big problem… I know a lot of authors who are struggling right now.
Most of us don’t make enough money to write full-time, even though it is often far more than 40+ hours a week of work. That’s why it’s so important to support authors by either buying their books, spreading the word about your favorite books online and to your friends, leaving them reviews (this helps books get shown to more potential readers), and borrowing books from libraries if you can’t afford to buy them.
In the end, all I can control is my writing–and (much like the characters in my books) to keep on keeping on, against all the odds, knowing that if I don’t give up, I’ll find ways to keep my career alive.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I’ve mentioned, I’m the author of 7 YA fantasy books. The DEFY trilogy, the DARK BREAKS THE DAWN doulogy, and the SISTERS OF SHADOW AND LIGHT doulogy. I’m known for writing books with kick-butt heroines, epic world-building and battles, swoony kissing scenes, and emotional, gripping plots. My books are thrilling and romantic enough to have garnered a lot of adult fans, but still “clean” enough to be able to hand them to a seventh grader.
I’ve had my books chosen as Indie Next List picks, received starred reviews, hit some bestseller lists, and had other amazing accomplishments that I’m really proud to have achieved. But the feedback that means the most to me is the readers who write me to tell me that they’ve read my books eight or nine times. The readers tell me that my books are what made them love reading.
Those who have told me my character has helped them through difficult times. The reader who loved my books so much, her grandma brought her from the midwest to Utah to meet me and get her books signed. Those moments are the ones I truly treasure. Those are the moments that make all the rejection and self-doubt and stress worth it.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Reading a book that’s so well written I can’t put it down and my internal editor remains silent the entire time. Breathing in the fresh air and taking in the beauty of the mountains on a difficult hike–and the feeling of accomplishment and the amazing vistas from reaching the summit. Lying on a beach, warmed by the sun, reading a book while listening to the laughter of my children mingled with the crashing of the waves.
Looking out at a crowd of readers who are waiting to hear me speak. Signing a book for someone I’ve never met who picked it up and loved it, and realizing my dream has become a reality. A delicious meal. A weekend away with just me and my husband. Snuggling up on the couch with our whole family watching a movie. Or just talking and laughing our heads off at the silliest things.
Movie theater popcorn with a Cherry Coke. Disneyland (and World). Swimming with sharks or dolphins (and hopefully Orcas someday). Getting fan art of my characters. Sunday naps. Bubble baths. Pictures and home videos. Christmas. Birthdays. Desserts of all kinds. In my opinion, happiness is found in moments and memories.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SaraBLarson.com
- Instagram: @SaraBLarson
- Facebook: @Author Sara B. Larson
- Twitter: @SaraBLarson
- TikTok: @SaraBLarson
Image Credits
Janessa Taylor and Erin Summerill
