Monday, October 24, 2011

Sarah Sundin - Interview and Giveaway

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Sundin, author of the Wings of Glory Series.

Karen:
It’s great to have you back, Sarah! Congratulations on your latest release, Blue Skies Tomorrow. How did you feel completing the three book series? What was your original inspiration for this series? 

Sarah: Writing the final chapter was difficult and required several drafts. The Novak boys and the women they love had been my constant mental companions for almost a decade. It was hard to say good-bye, even if they did have their happy endings.

The idea for the first book, A Distant Melody, came out of a “what if” question—what if a man and woman met at an event, truly clicked, and parted before exchanging contact info? Wouldn’t it be romantic if he went through great effort to track her down? My husband and I watched a History Channel special on the US Eighth Air Force based in England which flew over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, and I was hooked. My great-uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth, so I had access to family stories plus his personal letters. My research fascinated me so much, the story expanded to become a trilogy, with each book focusing on one of three brothers.

Karen: Of the three books, which character is your favorite?
 
Sarah: That’s like asking which is my favorite child. I have three children, unique and lovable in their own ways. Some days I like one better than another. Don’t gasp. You do it too. But I love them equally. It’s the same with my characters. I adore them, am exasperated by them, and try to figure out how they tick.



Karen:
I am sure that you found a lot of interesting facts with your research for these books. Was there anything that you unearthed that really took you by surprise?

Sarah:  In Blue Skies Tomorrow, the heroine experiences the Port Chicago Explosion, where 320 sailors were killed in the largest US Home Front disaster in the war. Most of the men killed were black. I thought I understood the explosion and the mutiny trial that followed (it happened in my home county), but my research changed my mind. I knew there was a great deal of racism and discrimination at the time, but the details of this disaster really brought it home to me.

Karen: Did I hear something about you and your family going to Italy and France this summer? It must have been fabulous! Was the trip writing related?

Sarah: It was fabulous! My husband and two younger kids and I went to Provence and Italy, part family vacation, and part research for my next series. Not only did we see tourist places like Pompeii and Rome and Avignon, but I was able to see the ancient Greek (yes, Greek!) temples at Paestum on the Gulf of Salerno, where the 93rd Evacuation Hospital was based, sink my toes in the sand of the Anzio landing beaches, and get remarkably close to the active French military airfield at Istres le Tubé, where the flight nurses were based. There was something special about being able to smell the air and feel the sand and hear the cigales (the cicadas in Provence).

Karen: Sounds like a great trip! Tell us, what is your favorite aspect of the published author’s life?
 
Sarah: My favorite part is being able to do what I love most and call it a job. There’s so much I love—when an idea sparks, when the story flows, when a sentence sings. And when readers say that God used words I wrote to change their hearts—well, that just gives me goose-bumps.

Karen: What is your least favorite aspect?

Sarah: I’m not fond of marketing plans, and I don’t care for some aspects of promotion—it often feels like bragging to me. But it’s a necessary evil.

Karen: Congratulations on your new three book series, Wings of the Nightingale. I’ll look forward to reading all of them! Can you tell us a little about it? 

Sarah: The Wings of the Nightingale series follows three World War II flight nurses who discover love, friendship, and peril in the skies and on the shores of the Mediterranean. The first novel in the series, With Every Letter, will release Fall 2012.
Loner Mellie Blake longs for adventure as a flight nurse, while Army engineer Lt. Tom MacGilliver tries to overcome the legacy of his infamous father. In North Africa and Sicily, Mellie pioneers air evacuation while Tom builds airfields under fire. An anonymous pen pal correspondence helps them unlock their true identities.

Karen:
Sounds like a winner. :) Thank you for stopping by to see us today. I’m sure my followers would join me in wishing you all the best with your upcoming books.

Sarah: It was a pleasure, thank you!


Stop by and see Sarah at her blog, Under His Wings, or at her website. She'd love to see you!

Giveaway Details - Please Read Carefully :)

  • You must be a follower and leave a comment, with email address, on this post.
  • Gain bonus entries (+1 each) by posting this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please include link with your comment.
  • Open to residents of the United States and Canada.
  • Deadline to enter is noon EST, Saturday, October 29, 2011. Winner will be notified via email and will have 36 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be announced Monday, October 31.

Do you have any questions for Sarah? What genre do you like to read for pleasure?


Blessings,

Karen

34 comments :

  1. Wow, Tuscany. I'm jealous. It does sound like a great trip!

    I like reading chick lit for pleasure. And travelogues.

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  2. I can relate. I love being able to say I'm a published author. The other day my DIL introduced me to her friend that way. Wow, what a boost.

    Great interview, ladies.

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  3. Great interview! My guilty pleasure is retracing my old childhood novels, like Little House. :)

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  4. I read her first book and was impressed with her writing and also that she took bold chances with her characters. It was a happy ending but at a high price. Good luck Sarah on all your future projects! :O)

    estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

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  5. Her books sound so interesting. How great that she can go on vacations to research her books. Now a bad idea.

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  6. Talli,
    I know, me too! :) All in the name of research...We need some research like that!

    Joylene,
    That must have been fun! Hopefully they all keep you grounded. LOL! :) How's that new grandson?

    Lydia,
    Thank you! I know, I still gravitate back to my favorites, like Anne of Green Gables. Congrats on your book contract!

    Diane,
    You are right, she does have bold characters. I can't wait to read Blue Skies!

    Nancy,
    I've really enjoyed the two books I've read so far. I know - research and a great trip - I could handle that! :)

    Blessings,
    Karen

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  7. Will she take me with her on her next trip to Europe?? Lol Her what-if for her book sounds wonderful!

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  8. Great interview, ladies! I loved getting to meet Sarah at the ACFW Conference this year...She's such a sweetheart. Congrats on your new series, Sarah!

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  9. I can identify with her "favorite parts of being a published author" list. Even though I'm not in book form - yet - I know what she means when it happens as I'm writing the column.

    One day, K, YOU'LL be the one giving the interviews. Really!

    Waving and grinning,

    Rhonda

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  10. Terri,
    You know, I was thinking the same thing! lol Sounds like a great trip, doesn't it?

    Sarah,
    Thank you! Sarah is one of my favorite authors!

    Rhonda,
    It is fun to see your name in print, isn't it? So far we aren't fighting off the paparazzi, are we? :P Thanks for your sweet words!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  11. It's sure fun to hear what makes people tick, especially creative people. I loved her response about picking favorite characters (being akin to picking a favorite child).

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  12. Excellent interview. I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It felt like we were sitting in my sun room enjoying coffee and tea, eating yummy chocolate, and discussing your books, Sarah.

    (((hugs amigo)))

    Doing what I love the most and calling it a job. Ahhhh...

    That has got to be the life. :-)

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  13. Kathleen,
    I know, it is! And I thought that answer a good one. I know I couldn't choose! :)

    Robyn,
    Thanks so much, amigo! It would have been fun if we had been in your sunroom! :)

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  14. A great interview, Karen!

    Sarah, your trip sounds awesome. Congratulations on your new series and all the best to you with your writing!

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  15. Karen - Wonderful Interview!!!
    Sarah - your research sounds like a lot of fun, and I am inspired by your honest "7 draft" statement. I need to read that kind of honesty when I am muddling through my revision.

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  16. Eileen,
    Thank you! Sarah is so much fun to work with. :)

    Tyrean,
    Thanks so much! :) Sarah is inspiring. She's a good writer too!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  17. Well done with this interview, Karen. Nice to get to know you a little, Sarah!

    Karen, thanks for stopping by as I return to blogging. Hugs!

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  18. Ooo, that premise does sound very romantic!!

    I usually like to read YA or romance for pleasure.

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  19. Janna,
    It was good to see you back! Glad you enjoyed the interview. :)

    Jennifer,
    Sarah's books always have a good romantic element to them. Looking forward to reading this one.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  20. Thanks for a great interview.

    Since I'm enjoying Sarah's book right now, don't enter me in the giveaway. I couldn't wait to get it. :)

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  21. Wow! I miss a day and look what happens! Hi, everyone!

    Talli & Nancy & Terri - thanks :) The vacation was a lot of fun. Oops! Not vacation - suffering for my art. Yes, that's it.

    Joylene - that's a wonderful thing! My boys think it's cool that I'm an author, my teen girl thinks I did it with the sole purpose of RUINING HER LIFE!!! He he he. So, maybe I did.

    Lydia & Karen - Little House! Green Gables! We're "kindred spirits." I re-read both series a few years ago. Rivals anything in the "grown-up" genres.

    Diane - thanks :) I'm glad you liked my scenarios.

    Sarah F - it was so much fun meeting you too. Twice. Since I didn't recognize you the second time. Sheesh. Just slap me if I do that again.

    Rhonda - your time will come :)

    Sassy Granny - first of all, love the name :) Secondly, I'm glad you enjoyed the interview.

    Robyn - I'm totally up for the chocolate! And yes, I feel kind of spoiled doing what I love for a job.

    Eileen & Janna & Jennifer - thanks! I'm so glad you stopped by!

    Tyrean - thanks! I've heard it said that "writing is rewriting." I find on the second or third draft that the story really starts coming together. And I hate typos.

    Susan - hi there! I hope you're enjoying the book!

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  22. Susan,
    You are welcome! Can't wait to read this book. :)

    Sarah,
    I always like to get a good conversation going. I am glad to have you along! It's been a pleasure. :)

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  23. This was a fabulous interview. I enjoyed reading about the books and what inspired her to write the stories. I am not sure if I am to leave my email address here or on her site, but that is my next stop.

    Thank you for hosting such a poweful interview with such a lovely and taleted author.

    Melissa Sugar
    sugarlaw67@yahoo.com

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  24. How romantic; I need a diversion like this!

    Please enter my name in the drawing; I am a follower.

    jeanettelevellie(at)gmail(dot)com

    Thanks for your generosity!

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  25. Melissa,
    Thank you! Sarah is a great person to interview. :) You left your email address in the right place. I added you to the list!

    Jen,
    You have been busy! :) I am fairly sure you would like Sarah's books. Got you on the list!

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  26. I enjoyed reading the interview. Sad I haven't read her books, and sadder that I don't qualify for any giveaway....!

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  27. Melissa & Jeanette - thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the interview.

    Khushi - that makes me sad too! If overseas postage weren't so very expensive, I'd open it up worldwide. But it costs more than the book itself!

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  28. Joy,
    I encourage you to pick up her books if you ever have the chance! You just might enjoy them. :)

    Sarah,
    I understand about the postage thing. We have friends in Japan that we sometimes mail things to and it is quite an expense. :)

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  29. Hi Karen and Sarah .. sounds fascinating research that you've been able to unearth through your family's connections. That must make everything so much more real ... then actually being able to get to some of the places and smell the smells and feel the earth beneath your feet.

    Great to meet you .. and good luck with all future publications - Hilary

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  30. Hilary,
    I agree, it must make it more real! What a great way to do research. :) Thanks so much for stopping by!
    Blessings,
    Karen

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  31. This sounds like a wonderful book. Please enter my name in the giveaway.

    Karen, I cannot believe I've never signed up to be your follower. Yours is one of the first blogs I visit when I get a chance. I am now... so glad I stopped by.

    Sarah, a huge congratulations on the publication of your book! I look forward to reading it. And I'm so happy about your trip... it sounds heavenly.

    Saloma

    salomafurlong[at]gmail[dot]com

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  32. Saloma,
    I thought you were a follower already too! Thanks for signing on. :) I've got you on the list, and just in time. Will use random.org this afternoon to choose the winner.
    Thanks and blessings,
    Karen

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  33. I am back. I know I already commented, but I wanted to say thank you. I won and I am so excited. I never win anything. I think I will buy a lottery ticket this week.

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  34. Sarah,
    You are very welcome! A big thank you to Sarah too, for offering the book. :) Thanks so much for participating.
    Have a great week,
    Karen

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Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Have a blessed day!