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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Someday Stars: Meet Sara Bowers


What’s your name, and where are you from?
 Sara Bowers. I was born in Seattle, grew up in Utah, and currently live in Georgia.

How long have you been writing?
Short answer: Forever.

Long answer: Since before I could write letters. One of my earliest memories is of asking my mom to write out sentences so I could copy them down. In kindergarten I wrote and illustrated, stories about princes and princesses who got married (even then I was an incurable romantic) that I took to show and tell. I started my first chapter book when I was eight. It was only ten pages (short chapters) but it was a start. I’ve been writing in one way or another all my life. But it was only a few years ago that I got serious about figuring out publishing and joined the online community.

What genre(s) do you write?
Mostly fantasy, though I’ve toyed around with contemporaries, YA, and picture books.

What’s your current WIP? Can you tell us about it?
I’m still in the honeymoon phase with my current WIP. I’m about 20K into the story. Since I’m a pantser I don’t always know where I’m going so it’s hard to write a synopsis or logline this early, but basically it’s about a young girl who is chosen to be the bride of the crown prince, but first she must save him from the Rusalka’s spell.

I’m also half way through the first draft of the sequel to the novel I’m shopping around. When Samuel’s daughter is kidnapped by selkies, he must search to the ends of the land and into the ocean to get her back.

What’s your current day job? How does it help or hinder your writing?
I’m a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful children, a three-year-old and a two-year-old. In some ways it gives me more flexibility. Since I’m at home, I can snatch some time here and there to get a few words in, or write down that brilliant thought. But at the same time life is so completely consuming. There’s always someone to take care of or a spill to clean up so it’s hard to make time for writing. Especially if you can hear the kids screaming or feel the spilled cheerios on the floor taunting you.

Who is your favorite author?
Yikes. I can’t say I have one. There are so many excellent authors. Who I like most depends on my mood at the time.

Favorite book?
I generally say I can’t choose a favorite any more than a mom could choose a favorite child. Still, if pressed I usually say Jane Eyre. I’ve probably read that more times than anything else. Seriously, I can quote large sections of it and tell you exactly where the movies (I’ve seen a lot of them, none of them satisfactory) changed dialogue. I read it for the first time when I was 11 or 12 and it really showed me what a book could be.

What other hobbies or activities do you do outside of writing?
I don’t have much time for other hobbies but when I can I like to quilt, crochet, garden, bake, play games, and spend time with family. (Just in case you were confused, family is not a hobby. They’re the priority.)

What is something unique about yourself?
Huh, Um, let me think... (a few days later) still thinking...

Honestly, I’m pretty much your average Joe Shmoe. Except I’m a woman, so it should be something a little more feminine.

Do you have a blog, Twitter, and/or Web site we can link to?
Whew, finally an easy question. My blog, It’s Just Me, can be found at spbowers.blogspot.com.

27 comments:

  1. Loved the interview, Sara. And keep enjoying those babies (spilled Cheerios and all). They'll grow up faster than you think, leaving you with plenty of time to write. :)

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    1. I do. We waited long enough for them that I never forget how much I truly want them.

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  2. Ooh Jane Eyre, great choice!
    Charlie, I've tagged you in a meme on my blog :)

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    1. Thanks Laura, I'm always glad to find other Jane Eyre admirers.

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  3. Yeah, Sara! Loved the interview.

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  4. Great getting to "virtually" know you better, Sara.

    Another great choice for Some Day Stars, Charlie :-)

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  5. I love Sara! And I'm laughing at the Cheerios comment! Those pesky things do taunt... and I didn't know you grew up here in Utah! Way cool. :-)

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    1. I spent a good 28 years in various parts of Utah, it's all good. And I'm so glad others understand about the cheerios.

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  6. Well, Josefina Schmosefina, I love this:

    '(Just in case you were confused, family is not a hobby. They’re the priority.)'

    Love, love, love it.

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  7. Wow, from Seattle to Georgia, that's a trip and a half. I love Seattle. Spent a lot of time there before I had a family. Okay, I'll fess up. We all used to go down to the Maple Leaf pub on Sundays. Ah, I was young, what can I say. Great getting to know more about you, Sara.

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    1. I honestly don't remember much of Seattle. I would love to go spend some time there though. It's on my "someday" list.

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  8. Super interview Charlie, Sara is great. (: Wish I could learn to crochet! I think it's so beautiful and you can make all kinds of wonderful things with crochet....

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    1. My great grandmother taught me. My grandma and mother helped too. Personally I like the make crochet snowflakes to hang on the Christmas tree, though that could be the season talking.

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    2. Yes! crochet is perfect for making snowflakes. My mother also makes winter hats. I love them. I really need to find the time to learn.

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  9. Nice to meet a fellow writer and mom! It's kind of crazy how alike we are, in hobbies, number of children we stay home with, genre preference, and even future WIPs (I'm planning a Selkie story next, too, sort of a cross between the lullaby "The Great Selkie" and the old Helena Bonham Carter film "A Hazard of Hearts". I wish you luck! And if I had any sanity to spare, I'd send that along, too, but I need all I can get!

    Cheers.

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    1. Hey Danny, it's nice to meet you! Good luck on the selkie story. Maybe we'll start a new trend.

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  10. You were born in Seattle? AWESOME! Why did I not know this? Hmm. I've also lived in Utah and Washington. Great getting to know you better, Sara!

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  11. If only you wanted to move to georgia...

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  12. Lovely interview. And ooh, I hadn't known about the sequel! Poor Sam.

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    1. Poor Sam indeed. That was my NoNo project in 2010. I haven't done much with it since then.

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  13. You sound like the perfect mom.
    Fantasy is one of my favorite genres so keep writing - I want to read!

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