Sarah: The House On The Creek is a contemporary romance set in Virginia. Everett Anderson has returned home after more than a decade away from his family estate. Abby Ross has spent the last year renovating the same estate, turning the dilapidated Anderson mansion into a show piece. Everett and Abby shared a childhood rife difficulties and ripe with first love.
Now adults, their paths cross again and sparks fly.
Ana: What themes does your book explore and what do you hope the reader will take away from the experience? Is there a particular feeling or experience that you hope to evoke in the reader? Essentially, do you hope your book will mean to a reader?
Sarah: The House On The Creek is really about history. The shady history of the house, the innate sense of history suffusing colonial Virginia, and of course the over arcing romantic history that Abby and Everett can't ignore.
It's also, quite simply, a story about putting the past in order. I think every reader will come away with a sense of optimism. There are some hurdles in our past that seem too difficult to overcome. But difficult doesn't mean impossible.
Of course, the book is a romance, so I also hope my readers come away a little heated and and a lot entertained.
Ana: What prompted you to write this book and did you have a specific inspiration in mind? Were you influenced by a certain author or work that inspired you to add your voice to this genre? Besides the boatloads of money and rockstar fame, what motivated you to write this book?
Sarah: I write because sometimes it's more fun to live in my own head than in the outside world. It's what I do to relax.
The House On The Creek was really born some fifteen years ago, when I lived and worked in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. I loved the town, the people, the deep green James River, and the historic homes.
I'm a West Coaster who fell in love with the South. When I make boatloads of money - by playing the lottery - I'd like to retire somewhere along the James.
Ana: If you could compare your book to any other existing works, which ones would it be and why? If the one thing you could say to a prospective reader was, "If you like X, you'll love my book!", which work would be invoked so that a reader could judge whether or not your book is their cup of tea?
Sarah: I read a ton of science fiction, fantasy, and romance. Romance wise, I cut my teeth on Nora Roberts. Nowadays I read Patricia Briggs and Kim Harrison, also Julia Quinn, and many others.
Ana: Is this your first or only published work, or have you published other books? If you have published other books, how do they compare to this one? Do you have any more books planned, either as a follow-up to this one, or as a completely different book or genre?
Sarah: I've published a couple of small press science fiction novels, the first when I was straight out of college. At the moment I'm half way through a young adult fantasy for my twelve year old daughter.
I'm also busy jotting down notes for the next story in the James Creek series.
Ana: Where can readers obtain a copy of your book for them to enjoy? How can they contact you with any thoughts or questions? And do you have a means by which they can "sign up" to be notified when your next book comes available?
Sarah: The House On Creek is available exclusively as a Kindle ebook at the moment. In the fall it will be more widely distributed.
Anyone can reach me at madisonplacepress@gmail.com. I also have a mostly neglected blog at Wordpress. I'd really rather write fiction than blog real life.
Ana: Thank you. I understand you have the first chapter of your book available as an excerpt for interested readers? Is there anything else you wish to add for our readers?
Sarah: You can find a nice preview here.
Enjoy! And, when YOU win the lottery, take some time to visit colonial Virginia. You won't regret it.
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