Sara R. Stewart's Blog
February 3, 2022
Hello world!
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October 31, 2021
An entirely new family
So I did a thing...
I took the Ancestry.com DNA test hoping to find a brother and sister my father told me about from his first marriage. I've been looking for them for my entire adult life.
The day my test results came back I learned I had a 1st cousin. Then my "cousin" reached out to me to connect and as it turns out he was actually my nephew. His father is my brother and what is even more incredible is this is a brother I didn't even know existed. Now I have a half brother, two nephews, and great-nieces and nephews?
For this girl who just lost her mom and grew up an only child, it is amazing to meet more family. And we have the same hair color and similar facial structure.
The best part, they are incredibly nice humans who I am lucky to have met. Sometimes, life surprises you and makes you smile. What an incredible gift this has been.
I took the Ancestry.com DNA test hoping to find a brother and sister my father told me about from his first marriage. I've been looking for them for my entire adult life.
The day my test results came back I learned I had a 1st cousin. Then my "cousin" reached out to me to connect and as it turns out he was actually my nephew. His father is my brother and what is even more incredible is this is a brother I didn't even know existed. Now I have a half brother, two nephews, and great-nieces and nephews?
For this girl who just lost her mom and grew up an only child, it is amazing to meet more family. And we have the same hair color and similar facial structure.
The best part, they are incredibly nice humans who I am lucky to have met. Sometimes, life surprises you and makes you smile. What an incredible gift this has been.
September 23, 2021
On Sale Now! 99Cents
I'm so excited to offer Falling Beyond Dreams, book 2 in the Portland Lovers Series for sale for the next three weeks.
Zane and Cassandra are my favorite couple and they are so incredibly hot together.
Get your copy now for only 99 Cents while the sale lasts.
Zane and Cassandra are my favorite couple and they are so incredibly hot together.
Get your copy now for only 99 Cents while the sale lasts.
August 16, 2021
Woes of a part-time author
When you have to work a day job to make ends meet, all you want is to disappear into the worlds you create; it can be frustrating. I like what I do for a living, but I love writing - it is my calling.
I've always wanted to write full-time, but I only recently started writing and working towards that aspiration. The first year I started working towards this goal, I wrote 3 books in six months. One thing I find when I start is that the words flow freely as if they have been bottled up inside me for years waiting to come out. I have learned, however, that if I work full time and write that much, my husband gets a bit grouchy as I leave no time for him or our kids. So balance is key.
My dream is still to write full-time from a small home in Norway with the view of the Fjords. This will happen; I'm determined. It is just a matter of how long it will take me to get there.
I've always wanted to write full-time, but I only recently started writing and working towards that aspiration. The first year I started working towards this goal, I wrote 3 books in six months. One thing I find when I start is that the words flow freely as if they have been bottled up inside me for years waiting to come out. I have learned, however, that if I work full time and write that much, my husband gets a bit grouchy as I leave no time for him or our kids. So balance is key.
My dream is still to write full-time from a small home in Norway with the view of the Fjords. This will happen; I'm determined. It is just a matter of how long it will take me to get there.
August 1, 2021
Bound by Pride releases in a month!
When I sit down to write, it is a labor of love. Before I start my first chapter, I become obsessed with my characters. I write a few pages on who they are, where they come from, and their issues and motivations. It is the process of creating their back story that gets me excited about the journey they are about to embark on.
For me, each Erotic Romance comes with the responsibility of demonstrating that as humans, we are complex, and when we find love, our souls and lives change in ways we may never imagine. Sex can be just sex, but it is never more exciting than when your arousal comes from an attraction of mind, heart, and body.
It is essential to me to write strong, complex women who don’t need rescuing. But, unfortunately, that troupe has been overdone, and as a woman, I find it offensive. Also, if a woman needs saving, it puts their motivations in a precarious balance between necessity and desire.
In Book 3 of the Portland Lovers Series, Delia is possibly the most independent and capable woman I’ve written yet. She is a Sales Executive and a work acholic who barely has time for her friends, let alone a man. She has learned not to trust men with a bitter divorce in her past to a skilled and deceptive cheater.
Find out how billionaire John Gulbrandson finds his way into Delia’s heart in Bound by Pride, which will be available for purchase at the end of August.
Please send me your questions and feedback, as I’m always happy to learn and grow from the excellent guidance of my readers.
All my best,
Sara
For me, each Erotic Romance comes with the responsibility of demonstrating that as humans, we are complex, and when we find love, our souls and lives change in ways we may never imagine. Sex can be just sex, but it is never more exciting than when your arousal comes from an attraction of mind, heart, and body.
It is essential to me to write strong, complex women who don’t need rescuing. But, unfortunately, that troupe has been overdone, and as a woman, I find it offensive. Also, if a woman needs saving, it puts their motivations in a precarious balance between necessity and desire.
In Book 3 of the Portland Lovers Series, Delia is possibly the most independent and capable woman I’ve written yet. She is a Sales Executive and a work acholic who barely has time for her friends, let alone a man. She has learned not to trust men with a bitter divorce in her past to a skilled and deceptive cheater.
Find out how billionaire John Gulbrandson finds his way into Delia’s heart in Bound by Pride, which will be available for purchase at the end of August.
Please send me your questions and feedback, as I’m always happy to learn and grow from the excellent guidance of my readers.
All my best,
Sara
May 11, 2021
Best Moments Tuesday
Tuesdays I like to look back and consider what were my best moments of the day.
Was it the compliment I received on a job well done? Or perhaps maybe the feeling of achievement when I pushed myself to get things done when I felt sick and just wanted to go to bed? Maybe it was that moment where I learned a colleague I work with everyday is an aspiring author and we had something in common?
I think the best moments of the day were sitting next to my daughter reading her a bedtime story and realizing she can now read every word on the page and I helped her love reading.
For me marking time through contemplation and perspective of where you have been and where you want to gives me both a sense of accomplishment and a reminder of what is important.
What were your best moments today?
Was it the compliment I received on a job well done? Or perhaps maybe the feeling of achievement when I pushed myself to get things done when I felt sick and just wanted to go to bed? Maybe it was that moment where I learned a colleague I work with everyday is an aspiring author and we had something in common?
I think the best moments of the day were sitting next to my daughter reading her a bedtime story and realizing she can now read every word on the page and I helped her love reading.
For me marking time through contemplation and perspective of where you have been and where you want to gives me both a sense of accomplishment and a reminder of what is important.
What were your best moments today?
May 10, 2021
Monday Morning Editing kick in the butt
After being down for so long I suppose there isn't anywhere to go but up.
Quite literally, today I got out of bed and did some things differently. I've been struggling with motivation and desire to do anything since my mom passed away at the end of February and this morning I woke to a letter from my editor. It was just the kick in the butt I needed to get back into gear. So where did I start? With everything except editing, the road to completion for me often starts with a day or so of procrastination.
So today I tackled the garden, my office and figuring out how to batch posts to my social media platforms. What didn't I do? You guessed it - edit.
Tomorrow's goal 1 chapter!
Quite literally, today I got out of bed and did some things differently. I've been struggling with motivation and desire to do anything since my mom passed away at the end of February and this morning I woke to a letter from my editor. It was just the kick in the butt I needed to get back into gear. So where did I start? With everything except editing, the road to completion for me often starts with a day or so of procrastination.
So today I tackled the garden, my office and figuring out how to batch posts to my social media platforms. What didn't I do? You guessed it - edit.
Tomorrow's goal 1 chapter!
September 29, 2020
Falling Beyond Dreams TOMORROW
I'm so excited to share that book 2 in my Portland Lovers series, Falling Beyond dreams releases tomorrow. I'm in love with Zane and Cassandra's story and cannot to share it with you.
Zane is grief stricken young man who has it all but his grief prevents him from moving forward.
Cassandra has quite literally put her nose in books and stopped living much of a life of her own.
See how meeting each other sparks a fire in both of their lives and futures and see if that fire will burn strong or fizzle out.
Zane is grief stricken young man who has it all but his grief prevents him from moving forward.
Cassandra has quite literally put her nose in books and stopped living much of a life of her own.
See how meeting each other sparks a fire in both of their lives and futures and see if that fire will burn strong or fizzle out.
August 26, 2020
WIN A FREE BOOK
Eligibility:
Read either a purchased copy of Where Love Finds You, (Book 1 Portland Lovers) or Read for free in Kindle Unlimited and review on both Amazon & goodreads before 9/30 to be eligible.
How you win:
The first 3 people to review Where Love Finds You on both platforms and emails me a link to each review will win an author signed copy.
How to Enter:
Email sara@sararstewart.com before 9/30. Be sure to include links to your reviews.
Available for free on Kindle Unlimited as of 8/30:
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Love-Fin...
Read either a purchased copy of Where Love Finds You, (Book 1 Portland Lovers) or Read for free in Kindle Unlimited and review on both Amazon & goodreads before 9/30 to be eligible.
How you win:
The first 3 people to review Where Love Finds You on both platforms and emails me a link to each review will win an author signed copy.
How to Enter:
Email sara@sararstewart.com before 9/30. Be sure to include links to your reviews.
Available for free on Kindle Unlimited as of 8/30:
https://www.amazon.com/Where-Love-Fin...
June 14, 2020
Trying times for everyone!
[image error]Times to learn and change!
“How is working for Delia this week?” Zane wags his eyebrows in jest.
“Fine, she is a great boss. On Friday I let the cat out of the bag though and also promoted her.”
“Wow, was she surprised?”
“You said it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes that wide. She deserved it man, she has the best sales mind in the company and they keep looking past her for promotion because she is a woman.”
“That sucks, lucky for her you just bought the company then.”
“I’d say lucky for the company. It got me thinking differently though and I realized there are no women or people of color in leadership positions. I never really paid attention to that stuff before but I think this company is in need of being diversified.”
“That’s because you’ve never had to think of it before,” says Zane.
“What do you mean?”
“You are a white man with a ton of money, even if you didn’t always have it you always had the privilege of being a white man in a society centered around you.”
“You’re right. I feel like an idiot for never really thinking of that or seeing that before.”
“Don’t feel like an idiot, do something about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The only way things are ever going to change is if white people, specifically white men in positions of power start making different choices. Hire based upon merit and ensure equal opportunities are given to all candidates. Require your employees and companies to diversify their hiring practices, if you don’t make the changes a requirement it will not happen.”
“I am going to figure it out man, thank you for your honest talk. I appreciate it.”
“Whatever, man. You opened the door, I just walked through.”
This month the entire country seems to be in a state of upheaval. The news of two unnecessary deaths of black men leaking into the global consciousness of everyone and mask wearing protesters are reaching across the country from one coast to the other. It certainly has worked its way into my conscious and writing. I even found myself writing about white privilege in my newest erotica romance novel. What is romance after all, if it isn’t a reflection of what is going on in our world and tales of how people are surviving and growing through trying times.
In book three of my Portland Lover series, Bound by Pride I wrote the following conversations between Zane (book 2’s male protagonist) and John (book 1’s male protagonist), I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
“How is working for Delia this week?” Zane wags his eyebrows in jest.
“Fine, she is a great boss. On Friday I let the cat out of the bag though and also promoted her.”
“Wow, was she surprised?”
“You said it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen eyes that wide. She deserved it man, she has the best sales mind in the company and they keep looking past her for promotion because she is a woman.”
“That sucks, lucky for her you just bought the company then.”
“I’d say lucky for the company. It got me thinking differently though and I realized there are no women or people of color in leadership positions. I never really paid attention to that stuff before but I think this company is in need of being diversified.”
“That’s because you’ve never had to think of it before,” says Zane.
“What do you mean?”
“You are a white man with a ton of money, even if you didn’t always have it you always had the privilege of being a white man in a society centered around you.”
“You’re right. I feel like an idiot for never really thinking of that or seeing that before.”
“Don’t feel like an idiot, do something about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The only way things are ever going to change is if white people, specifically white men in positions of power start making different choices. Hire based upon merit and ensure equal opportunities are given to all candidates. Require your employees and companies to diversify their hiring practices, if you don’t make the changes a requirement it will not happen.”
“I am going to figure it out man, thank you for your honest talk. I appreciate it.”
“Whatever, man. You opened the door, I just walked through.”
I’m excited to share more with you about book 3 soon, Cordelia and John are two strong and willful people who find respect before love and that makes all the difference for these two emotionally jaded but fierce loyal people.
