Meet Sara Elisabeth, a romance author whose passion for storytelling began when she was just six years old. Inspired by literary legends like Ursula K. LeGuin and S. E. Hinton, her work carries the emotional depth and vivid imagination of the stories she grew up loving. With roots in both Washington State and British Columbia, Sara weaves romance, nostalgia, and personal truth into every page. In today’s interview, she shares what drives her creativity, how music and video games fuel her worldbuilding, and what readers can expect from her upcoming novel, Someone Like Me.
In Sara Elisabeth’s first novel, Someday Away, college freshman Quinn is caught between two very different guys—Lincoln Evans, the broody bad boy, and Trey Walker, the charming playboy. Despite their differences, Quinn can’t seem to escape the tangled web they weave together, and the chemistry between them intensifies in unexpected and sometimes heartbreaking ways. But when her cheating ex reappears, Quinn is forced to confront the past she’s been trying to outrun, threatening everything she’s built with Lincoln and Trey.
Q: What/who were your early literary influences, and how do you think their writing has shaped you as a storyteller today?
A: I was a huge reader as a kid, and I loved epic fantasy, so authors like Ursula K. LeGuin, Terry Brooks, and Raymond E. Feist were heavy influences when it came to my writing. I also loved reading The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton wrote that book when she was only fifteen, so I wanted to be just like her.
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
A: Definitely Terry Brooks and S.E. Hinton as I mentioned above, but I also read a lot of romance now, so CE Ricci, T.L. Swan, Jessie Walker, and Tate James are also some of my favorites. They inspired me to really get into the nitty gritty of the romance genre.
Q: What’s one writing habit you can’t live without and one you wish you could break?
A: I have to write everything in order, but I’m also a complete pantser. I really wish I could skip around sometimes when I get stuck, but it’s really hard for me to move on to another scene if the first one isn’t written.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice another writer has given you about storytelling?
A: Write it all. Everything you feel. Get all the raw stuff out. You can polish it later, but first you have to tell the story.
Q: Do you find inspiration in other art forms (music, film, visual art)? If so, how does it shape your work?
A: Music is a huge emotional trigger for me, and I love the gritty heartbreak of 90s alt rock and elder emo music, so sometimes I’ll be listening to a song and suddenly a new scene pops in my head. Unfortunately, I’m in the car most of the time, so hopefully I remember to write it down!
Q: Do you have your own circle of writer friends? If so, what other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
A: My author friends are everything—the found family I never knew I needed. It’s amazing to have people who can read your work with a critical eye but who also understand the industry. We bounce marketing ideas off each other and share information about events and opportunities. Some of the local authors I have met at signings have become amazing connections.
Q: What themes do you find yourself returning to again and again in your work?
A: Mental health rep and LGBTQAI+ rep are in everything I write. No matter what anyone says, these topics are political and important, and I hope that what I write helps readers embrace their identities and heal from trauma.
Q: What’s your go-to snack or drink while writing?
A: I always have a Diet Pepsi and some Twizzlers nearby. It gives me a little boost in the afternoon and helps me through writing slumps.
Q: In your experience, what has been the best way to market your books? Where have you found the greatest return on your investment (whether it be time or money invested?)
A: Surprisingly, as an indie author, local bookstores have given me the most income. The Barnes & Nobles allow events at minimal cost to the author, and they let me have a say in book placement, so my books tend to sell quickly. Local indie stores near me have also been great. Many of them buy from me wholesale, so I make the greatest profit from them (short of selling off my website).
Q: How do you define success as an author? Has that definition evolved over time?
A: At first I thought I had to be the next best seller, but that mindset changed when I self published. I have read incredible indie books with very few sales and very little hype and big-name authors with mediocre books at best. You’re an author because you wrote a book. Period. And that’s an amazing accomplishment, no matter how much money you make or what TikTok says.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read? Do you write in that genre? Has that always been your favorite genre, or has your taste evolved as you have grown as a writer?
A: Fantasy as a kid evolved to romance as an adult. But when I was reading fantasy, I craved the little side romances in each book, so I think deep down, I always loved romance. It is often true that you write best what you know, and I know romance really well. In addition to being a romance author, I’m also an editor of the genre.
Q: What’s a new genre or style you’d love to experiment with in the future?
A: Because of my background in epic fantasy, I’ll probably try my hand at a romantasy book one day. But very far in the future.
Sara Elisabeth has been a writer since she was six years old when she was inspired by authors like Ursula K. LeGuin, S. E. Hinton, and Terry Brooks. She’s from the Pacific Northwest, spending most of her life with one foot in British Columbia and one foot in Washington state. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a passion for RPG video games, movies, and 90s alt-rock music. When she’s not writing romance novels, she’s certainly reading them.
Connect with the author
- Author Website
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- Threads
- GoodReads
- Buy these and other Sara Elisabeth books today!
Now available in print and on Kindle!
While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my latest suspense novel, It Had to Happen, now available in print and on Kindle!
Book Summary
When Jack Utley loses his daughter just as his business is about to soar, it seems he’s traded financial gain for Callie’s life. After an encounter with a mysterious woman on the eve of Callie’s funeral, Jack wakes up to find that time has somehow rewound to the morning of Callie’s accident. Jack gets an opportunity that most grieving parents can only dream of – he saves his daughter’s life.
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