Interview With An Author - Sarah Louise Smith

Next up in my Interview With An Author blog posts is fellow Crooked Cat author Sarah Louise Smith, author of the amazing novel Amy & Zach.

PS-  I've read Amy & Zach and highly recommend this book!

Meet Amy & Zach
Amy has moved to the US in order to find her real father, but she hasn’t quite worked up the courage to do so yet.
Then she met Zach, who swept her off her feet. They fell in love, fast. But Zach has a secret with the potential to ruin everything.
As Amy prepares to return to England for her sister Libby’s wedding, Zach drops a bombshell. Amy is furious, so she hides his passport and flies alone. But Zach’s secret isn’t her only worry. She will see Tim again – her sister’s fiancé.
After he finds his passport, Zach heads to the UK to surprise Amy. He wants to apologise and finally meet her family. He knows he has a lot of explaining to do. But just what will he face?
Amy & Zach take it in turns to share their tale with you. They will reveal all, and may surprise you, in the end... 

You can buy Amy & Zach on Amazon now

What are the main ideas or themes in your book? 

Amy & Zach is a modern romance, but it is more than just a love story, it’s about family relationships, trust and loyalty.

What is the setting or context of the narrative? Why is it important?

The majority of the story takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, but Amy is from England, so there’s a contrast between this world and her life back home, which she compares throughout the book. I started writing ideas for the story while visiting Boston a few years ago and thought it would be fun to imagine a whole set of characters there.

Tell us more about the main characters and their dilemmas.

Amy has moved to Boston for several reasons; she’s bored with life back home, she has some issues with her family, and she wants to seek out her real father, a man she’s never met. She meets Zach and falls in love quickly, but he has a secret that he fails to share with her time and time again. When she does find out, it has disastrous affects.

Why did you write this novel? Any other issues or ‘big ideas’ behind it.

I’ve been writing stories since I was a child, usually starting novels and never completing them. Amy & Zach is a merger of various different story ideas that came together once I sat down, determined enough to write a complete novel! I read a lot of different novels myself, but my favourite is chick-lit – I like a fun romantic comedy, and therefore chose to write the sort of story I’d enjoy reading myself.

How do you go about writing a novel? Is it a simple or complex process?

It’s complex. The main story might be fairly straightforward, but it’s adding all the detail, the subplots and minor characters that really takes it from a short story to a novel. Discipline is key; when you’re working 9-5, it’s hard to find the motivation to write when you get home, but in the end I treated it like a part-time job and allocated time to write each day. My husband helped to facilitate this by taking on more than his fair share of the household chores! I’m very lucky.

What advice do you have for less experienced writers?

Just keep writing. If you enjoy what you’re doing, chances are there will be readers who enjoy it too. It can be challenging but keep at it: write, write, write.

 If you could leave a message to the world, what would it be?

Life each day to the fullest! I hate it when I hear people complain that they’re bored. Life is too short to be idle; go out and experience all the amazing things you can, while you can :)

Thanks Sarah!