Sara Blackard

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I'm a homeschool mom of 5 kids living in Interior Alaska with my wonderfully supportive husband. Aside from writing, I love reading (shocker), playing board games, creating healthy recipes, and picking up craft hobbies that I never finish. I love walking through the Alaskan wilderness, hunting and camping with my family, and finding historical places to explore.

When and why did you start writing books?

I started writing books in 2015, with a couple of years break due to health issues. I had my first book half-written, the others in the series completely fleshed out in my brain, but had been too scared to finish it. Then, I went to a homeschool conference workshop about math where the speaker challenged us moms to make a goal that had nothing to do with my kids or my husband. For a homeschool mom, that's hard, but I'd always wanted to write. What kind of example was I giving to my kids if I didn't pursue my own dreams. So, I sat down, finished the first book in a month and went right on to the next two. That was May 2019, and I've written eleven novels and a short story in the last year and a half!

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

My husband and I have an entrepreneurial spirit, so it made total sense to go into self-publishing when I got to Vestige of Hope finished. It's been such a fun experience that I don't second-guess at all.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

This is a hard one to answer. I love the character I' writing at that moment, but if I had to pick one, it would be Crashing into Jake. I loved writing about Chloe who has celiac disease and Jake who is a wounded ex-soldier. I loved their romance and healing.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Vestige of Courage probably stretched me the most. Its a story about a woman who time travels from the past to now. It was challenging writing from the perspective of someone who hasn't experienced modern society. I love that book and the challenge of writing it.

Who is your favourite author and book?

Do I have to pick one? If it's contemporary, I love Susan May Warren. Her Montana Fire series was fantastic (though they all are wonderful.) If it's historical, I love Karen Witemeyer. I love her humor and characters.

What book are you reading right now?

The Twelve Holidays by Emma St. Clair

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Wow ... all over the place. I'll read an article, visit a site, or read Scripture and stories will pop into my head. A lot of the times I'll just start asking what if and follow the rabbit trail!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Playing with my kids and reading. I also love helping others.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I'm working on editing Convincing Derrick and writing Honoring Lena, the last two books of my Stryker Security series. I'm also starting to loosely plot my next series based in Alaska.