Sara R. Stewart's Blog, page 2
June 3, 2020
June – Cover Reveal
May 6, 2020
Last Chance!
There are only 2 more days to sign up for my newsletter in time to receive a sneak peek at Where Love Finds You book cover. The official cover reveal will occur in June of 2020!
May 1, 2020
Learning to become an independent author
What have I found out?
What goes into the making of a successful book? One would think simply a well written text is all you need but that is so far from the truth of it. With the advancements in self publishing and print on demand services the industry has seen an influx of independent authors and texts.
With self publishing authors have the freedom to brake away from publishers’ strong hold on how women are portrayed in texts, in particular romance novels.
As a result of these changes romance novelists are crafting more intelligent female leads and designing love stories for an intelligent audience.
It is this trend that has me picking up romance novels again after nearly a ten year hiatus. Independent authors like Penny Reid, Meghan March and Mariana Zapata have built their own following of romance readers looking for something more than the traditional Harlequin Romance formula.
For the New Author, breaking into the publishing world how do we find readers that will find our work. I’ve gathered a few perspectives for myself, but most likely the winning formula will vary by genre and the quality of the authors work. Here is what I’ve found so far:
Design a cover on trend with what is selling in your genre. Find your readers, don’t waste your time trying to sell erotic romance to readers who only want cupcake romance. Plan and write a recognizable series. Series sell books.Write a good blurb, this is the one opportunity you have to sell your book; make it a good one. Advertise, advertise, advertise…
But don’t take my word for it. I’m not a published selling author yet. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned in my pursuit to publish and sell three books this year.
April 19, 2020
I never thought I’d write a sermon…
Falling Forward
I have been writing up a storm since the world went crazy and we all went into quarantine. Call it my uncanny ability to avoid reality I’ve fully submerged myself into the word of Zane and Cassie. Nearly at 50K words and there is still so much of their story I have yet to write. I love these characters and I know you will too.
Zane takes Cassie to San Francisco for a weekend and shows her the city where he grew up. The have fun together but something heavy is brewing in Cassie’s heart. On Sunday morning, Zane takes Cassie to visit his parents’ church and I was compelled from some where inside me to bring you in the church, let you look around and experience a sermon on Community and being of service. It is here Cassie is finally able to put a name to her unease.
But let me tell you that in order to make this happen I needed to write the sermon. I am not religious, or even Christian but found inspiration to write about how important community and being of service is. I will forever know that it is current events and a global pandemic that inspired me to write it. I do wonder however if I did justice to the man I have in mind from when I visited this very real church in my youth.
I find it fascinating how much of my actual life and experience influence my stories. As a new writer of course I knew that good writing often comes from experiences lived, however never did I realize that in each story and character I would be documenting different memories and experiences from my life but with fresh eyes and a completely different perspective.
I hope at the end of the day you will like what I’ve created as much as I have enjoyed the process of crafting the stories I love so much.
April 9, 2020
Cassie gets spanked.
What would you do for love?
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“I am sure he can see my breathing increase in rate, I’m so aroused and also just a little bit scared. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m not really sure how I feel about it. It gives me a naughty feeling and I’m not sure but I think I like it.”
April 3, 2020
Learning a new craft
The interesting thing I’m learning as a new author is that there is so much more to publishing a novel than simply writing an editing a manuscript. For example this week I created a website, found editors to give me feedback on my manuscript and created a Facebook Group. None of this was easy for me as it was all new but the lovely part of our modern times is that there is a You-tube video to teach you just about anything. Today created a Newsletter and email list manager with MailChimp and although it wasn’t the most intuitive process for me I made it through to the end. I hope you will decide to sign up for my Newsletter to continue to learn more about my journey towards publishing and find out before anyone else when book one of my Portland Lovers series launches.
Click below to Join:
April 1, 2020
Falling Forward
Hey friends, I wrote yesterday and today on my newest novel, Falling Forward. The story is really taking off and I cannot wait to share it with the world. The second book in my Series is once again set in beautiful Portland, Oregon and my main character is on her second date with Zane. Zane is a sexy as hell bad boy who wants nothing more than to tie her to his St. Anthony’s cross, but he also has a romantic side and will do what it takes to win over Cassie and get her in his bed. Here is an excerpt from their date:
“I gasp when I see the view. From any place in the room you can see the entire Columbia River Gorge on both the Oregon and Washington side. The view of the river winds all the way to the horizon. You can even see the West Hills of downtown Portland way off in the distance. The sun is still up but you can tell the view when it sets will be amazing and I hope we’ll still be here to see it.”
Thanks for checking in.
With all my love, Sara
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March 26, 2020
Where Love Finds You
A novel by Sara R Stewart, to be published in the summer of 2020
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She came upon a man who lit her up inside. Turned her heart beat to racing and her skin warm and moist. It was that knowledge, that she could be so impacted by him, that made her flee before ever getting to know him.
For him, life came too easy. There was no uncertainty or doubt. There was no want unfulfilled. That was before he met her and she ran away.
What will become of a man possessed with want for a woman who is determined to be left alone? What will become of a woman who is more terrified of love than being alone?
