
You spent a few years living in England. What was the best thing about living abroad?
Best thing about living abroad was that my work permit only lasted 6 months. After that, I was a visitor and legally not allowed to do anything but write. I wrote my first complete novel-length manuscript there. (It was an adult fantasy with way, way, way too many talking animals.) This was rather momentous to me because until that point, I had never completed a full manuscript. I had a zillion story beginnings (and at one point, in elementary school, I actually color coded and indexed all my story beginnings -- I was a somewhat organized child), but finishing a story was my Rubicon. Once I did it, then writing became a lot easier because I knew I could do it, and the whole impossible dream of becoming a writer became a lot more achievable.
Second best thing about living in England was that they have CASTLES. I love castles.

"Once upon a time" has enormous power. For many of us, fairy tales were some of the first stories we ever heard and because of that, the archetypes and themes in them are embedded in our subconscious and affect both how we see the world and how we react to and interpret stories. So that makes fairy tales a really powerful tool for a writer. You get to build on, subvert, and satisfy these ingrained reader expectations.
I also just really like them. Witches with houses that walk around on chicken legs, fairy godmothers that pop in and out and have dubious taste in footwear, heroines who fly on the back of the North Wind to castles east of the sun and west of the moon... Great fun to write!
I know from your blog that you love the Star Wars movies. Do you have a favorite movie out of the six? What about favorite character?
Star Wars: A New Hope. It’s the classic. 121 minutes of awesomeness, to quote “How I Met Your Mother.” As for favorite character... ooh, that's tough. I think I'd have to pick R2-D2 because he saves the day at least once in every movie.
That's so true! I never noticed before. Any other favorite movies or TV shows?
For TV... I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the short-lived-but-still-awesome Life and Times of Juniper Lee (which was basically a cartoon version of Buffy but minus the whining). Also love Stargate SG-1 and Star Trek TNG. Current shows I watch are American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and Project Runway -- I think I love them because they are all about people achieving impossible dreams.

One of my favorite things to read on your blog is your Obscure Fairy Tales Feature. What was the inspiration for these posts?
I researched a TON of European fairy tales for Into the Wild
I laugh so hard every time I read those. We're talking stuff-coming-out-of-my-nose laughter. I know Ice

My next project is called Tigerlily. It is a YA fantasy about magic at Princeton. It will be out in fall 2010, also from Simon & Schuster. It's all about the process of getting into college. And saving the world. And meeting college boys. I'm ridiculously excited about this book too. :)
I can see why, it sounds great. I can't wait to get my hands on Ice
Thanks so much for interviewing me! Happy blog anniversary!
You can of course learn more about Sarah by visiting her website. Make sure you also check out her blog to see all the new stuff coming next month to celebrate the release of Ice.
4 comments:
Hey, I've actually read that Fairy Tale about the Donkey that poops gold. I can't remember the name of it though, because I read it in German class. I've long since forgotten most of my German.
Haiku Amy: Yay! Someone else who has heard of that story! It's from the Brothers Grimm, and it's called "The Wishing Table, the Gold Donkey, and the Cudgel in the Sack." Every time someone yells the word "bricklebrit," the donkey poops and vomits gold. Charming.
Hi :)
Thanks for the great interview.
I love learning about the authors I love.
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
PS - Thanks again for sharing Sarah.
:)
Love fairy tales, and especially obscure ones! Ever since I took my Russian fairy tale class in college.
Great interview, thank you both!
(Also, I loved "Ice." Ack. I cannot wait for "Tigerlily.")
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