We’re happy to have debut author Sarah Parr with us today. Her Giorgian Historical Romance, RENEGADE, is on the shelves now! As part of her celebration, Sarah is giving an autographed copy of her book to a lucky commenter.
This is Friday morning, and I’m adding a note that the random generator chose Donnell as the lucky winner of Sarah’s book! Congratulations, Donnell!
Tell us your call story. How did it happen for you?
My call story – I have been writing for only a couple years. I finished one manuscript and then began some research. Kensington sounded like a great publisher and I read about their debut author program. I signed up for RWA in Dallas and managed to land an appointment with Hilary Sares. From January to July I completed my second manuscript. Hilary was amazing. We talked, I found her after the interview and we talked some more. I listened to her suggestions, made a couple changes and sent her the manuscript. She bought both. RENEGADE, which just debuted in June, was my first book.
Did you have an agent when you first sold?
No. I signed with Roberta Brown the following month.
We’d love to know all about the type of books you write.
I write historical romance adventure, real page turners. My time period is the Georgian – from early 1700’s until the end of the century. As for location, RENEGADE begins in Constantinople, my second book takes place partially in Bermuda. Both also include England.
How long were you writing and how many books did you write before you sold?
RENEGADE is my first book. I had been playing with short stories for a couple years.
Can you tell us about your debut book? What is it about and what genre is it?
RENEGADE is a fast paced page turner with Jonathon, a sexy alpha hero captain and Jaline, a slave he rescues. It includes passion, mystery, action and suspense. The story begins in 1762 in Constantinople when Jonathon wins Jaline in a game of dice. The more he learns about her, the more he is intrigued. Jaline, on the other hand, has a hard time trusting anyone, she has been betrayed so many times. It is their story as they find their way, fight for each other, and solve an ancient mystery.
What are your plans for the future? What more can we look forward to from you?
My second book, a stand alone but linked story comes out in July 2010. It is the story of Jonathon and Jaline’s son. Kensington has expressed an interest in a third book. I love history and will continue to write it, along with other stories as the inspiration strikes!
Finally, do you have a website where readers can go to see what you have in the pipeline, or learn more about your upcoming debut release?
I do! Newsletter, website, trailers, book information, blog, giveaways and more are available at www.sarahparr.com.
Congrats Sarah! I’m also a debut Kensington author! It’s nice to “meet” you! Your book sounds great. Can’t wait to pick it up.
Sarah, thanks for being our guest today. Lately I’ve been reading more Georgian romances. Yours has a fresh twist and sounds wonderful!
Sara, so happy for you! We’re glad you stopped by Magical, and look forward to seeing you here again.
Like Edie said, your book sounds original and fresh…two things I always look for! I’ll definitely look your book up. Best of luck to you!
Sarah, congratulations! I have a question about the speed of your road to publication. I can’t put it in historical terms, so I’ll compare it to the Indy 500
Wow! I have two critique partners who also write historical, and I’m a huge fan. I know the research that goes into it; One, Allegra Gray, is also newly published with Kensington. Will you talk about your background and historical accuracy. Also I’m curious if you belonged to any writer’s groups before you published and how long you’ve been writing overall. Well done and my very best wishes, and of course, please enter me in the drawing.
Hi everyone!! Thank you for the invitation and the warm welcome
. It is WONDERFUL to visit.
Lori – big congrats and virtual hello!
Edie – Georgian is a very interesting place to be. It is a time of major shifts in England which I find fascinating – one of the reasons I enjoy it so much.
LaDonna – awww – thanks
!! Let me know via email or though my site and I’ll be glad to send you an autographed bookplate and bookmark for your copy (note – the offer stands for anyone commenting today).
Hi Donnell! Nice to meet you! To your questions – the first is on research. I do A LOT of research. As a lover of history, I read, watch documentaries, and study everything. In college I double majored in History and Economics. I lived in Denmark for a year, Bermuda another year have traveled Europe, Russia, and the Caribbean extensively. However, History is a tricky subject. Even people of the era don’t agree or interpret the facts in the same light. (In a modern sense, just ask two people who witnessed the same car accident and you will get two different stories).
When it comes to history, there is a point at which you, the student, has to take a leap and interpret the facts. For example, from the Georgian, the reason we call it the Georgian is because it is the era of the four king Georges, Hanoverian in origin. Some historians view this as a stabilizing influence in English history, others see it as a time of radical shifts. Depending on which facts you deem crucial, you can make the argument either way. Take that into the realm of fiction and you can see England as a time of a calm landed aristocracy that grew in power, or one where the stress between north and south was fought on many fronts, wars (The Jacobite Uprising of 1715, The War of Austrian Succession, Culloden, Seven Year, India, the Carnatic Wars, Revolutionary, Napoleon, to name a few). There were also pirates and privateers that had to be fought off, illnesses and social upheavals.
I tend to interpret the period as the later, a time of great change, full of flamboyant characters, changing landscapes (political, social, economic, physical, etc) and intriguing histories.
Donnell part II: question 2: I did not belong to any writers group. I played with short stories for fun for a couple years, then wrote RENEGADE and book 2, due out in July 2010. Both were bought by Kensington.
Thank you for your kind wishes!!
Wow! Sounds like you’re on a rollercoaster, Sarah. Congratulations on your release and your subsequent releases. I love hearing stories of debut authors.
Thanx for joining us here at MM.
Hi Sarah,
Congrats on your debut release. “Renegade” sounds like an intriguing read and I love the exotic setting.
Hi Liz, Hi Jane! Thanks!! It has been a roller coaster. Renegade is off to an amazing start! On the down side, my father passed away only six months ago and my stepmother will pass soon from metastasized breast cancer. The ecstasy and the agony…
I consider each day a blessing, I’m enjoying sharing this one with all of you!
Congratulations Sarah!! The book sounds great and I’m excited b/c it’s so different from what’s out there now. Being different pays off!! Good luck and I definetly will be checking out Renegade!!
Hellooooo Sarah Parr! I’ve read nothing but good things about “Renegade” It looks good
Congratulations on your first novel Sarah!!! Wow, how fantastic to sell the first novel you wrote and so cool that it’s set (at least partly) in such an exotic locale as Constantinople! That alone is enough for RENEGADE to make my TBR list.
Again, congrats. I look forward to checking out both this and the next installment.
Thanks for being here on MM, Sarah, and congratulations on your debut. Renegade sounds fabulous!