Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Forged by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Forged
The one missing person he can’t find
is the one who matters the most.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and two sparrows for a penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband, Michael, and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.
Connect with Sara by visiting saradavison.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Which of your Published or Unpublished books is your favorite, and why?
Wow. Tough question. I truly love all of my books and all of my characters or I wouldn’t allow them to go out into the world. Having said that, Lost Down Deep and Every Star in the Sky are probably the two that have the biggest place in my heart, probably because the female leads are so strong and yet (to me, anyway) still very appealing, which is a tough balance to achieve. My favourite character, though, is Puerto-Rican-Canadian private investigator Jax Rodríguez, because he was so much fun to write. Initially he comes off as very cocky and over-confident, but over the course of the two books he appears in – Driven and Forged from The Night Guardians Series – it becomes apparent that this persona masks deep hurt and loss. Plus, he gave me a chance to use Spanish in my books, which is such a beautiful, romantic language.
How do you pick your character’s personalities or looks?
I very rarely consciously choose either, particularly the personality. That forms as I write, which is far more interesting to me than planning out all those details ahead of time. I have writer friends who know everything, including backstory, about the characters before they write the opening sentence, but I have never done that with any of my books.
What is your favorite genre to read? What is your favorite genre to write? And why are they your favorites?
I have always gravitated toward romantic suspense, which is no doubt why, even though I never intentionally chose to write in that genre, that is what came out when I started to write. I love the simmering electricity of the romance element. It also ratchets up the tension by raising the stakes for the hero and heroine because a threat to someone they care about or love gives them so much more to lose. But I also love the edge-of-your-seat thrill of the suspense element. The two are a killer combination (often literally😊).
What inspires you the most?
My desire to take the stories God gives me and make them as excellent as I possibly can, market them to the best of my ability, and then send them out into the world to be used by Him however He wishes. Writing is more than a passion for me – it is a spiritual journey and a ministry. As a Christian author, I have to look at success differently than the world does. Since I know the inspiration comes from God, I can trust He has a plan for each book. If that plan is for five people or five hundred or a million to read it and be impacted by it then, once my part is done, I can leave the rest in His hands. I can trust that the purpose He has for it will be fulfilled, meaning that the book is a success, even if I never know those details this side of Heaven.
Once an idea takes root, how long does it take you to write it down? Do you use outlines?
Different books have taken me different amounts of time. Often it depends what else is going on in my life. I wrote most of Guarded during NaNoWriMo one year, because I was able to completely clear my schedule and focus on that and nothing else for the month. Other books have taken a year or more. I never want to rush it or release a book before it is completely ready (not that I ever truly feel that it is), which is one of the reasons I love being a hybrid author – I can completely set the schedule for when I will release my indie books. As for outlines, I fall somewhere between a pantser and a plotter. I always have a rough outline. I like to know the beginning and the ending and have at least a vague idea of how I will get from one to the other, but the writing remains very fluid and often takes me in directions I could never have foreseen before I began the book.
Do you have a favorite author? Or someone whom you would say has influenced your writing style?
So, so many. In my genre, I enjoy and admire the work of Irene Hannon, DiAnn Mills, Colleen Coble, Dani Pettrey, Susan May Warren, Lynette Eason, and Nancy Mehl. I adore the character development and interaction of C.C. Warrens’ stories. My all-time favourite book is A Wrinkle in Time, so Madeleine L’Engle has been an influence. So many others that I’m hesitant to start naming names, but I’ve probably been impacted in small or big ways by every book I have ever read and loved whether Christian or mainstream.
What are your hobbies other than writing?
In my spare time, I love spending time with my husband and kids, especially since we are at the stage of life where our kids are starting to leave home. Every moment with them now feels so sacred and valuable, and I try to cherish each one and make the most of it. I also love my two book clubs and my three writer’s groups. Other favourite activities would be coffee with friends, walking, playing games, watching movies (especially old black and white classics), and road trips.
Do you have a genre that you would never write?
Horror and erotica. Erotica for obvious reasons, and horror because I can’t even bring myself to read or watch anything in that genre. I don’t mind gothic at all – love Jaime Jo Wright books, and Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein were two of my favourites in university – but I have no interest in being terrified by what I am reading or watching or in the gore that is often a part of that genre.
What is one thing you would say has had the greatest impact on your writing?
Surrounding myself with other writers who, like me, consider any skill they might have a gift from God and their work an offering to Him. The Christian writing community is extremely special and unique. We are not in competition with one another – we are all on the same side and working for the same goal, to honour God and to draw others to Him through our work. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of such a supportive and encouraging family.
Lastly, what was your favorite book growing up?
As mentioned earlier, A Wrinkle in Time is likely my all-time favourite, although it is as tricky to pinpoint one to give that title to as it is to name a favourite from among my own books. When I was younger, I devoured every Bobbsey Twins book I could get my hands on. I also loved Charlotte’s Web, Anne of Green Gables, Encyclopedia Brown books, and Judy Blume’s Ellen Tebbits. The first CF I remember reading, loving, and being deeply impacted by was Love Comes Softly by my fellow Canadian author Janette Oke. I know that’s more than one, but even that short list barely scratches the surface of all the amazing books I have read and loved in my life (so far).
Thanks so much for letting me interview you Sara!
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(2) winners will receive a paperback copy of Forged and $25 Amazon gift card.
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 12, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 19, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Would be a good book for Fall reading.
Thanks for the contest.
I enjoyed reading the interview and getting to know a little about you, Sara, Forged sounds like a thrilling read!
Thanks for sharing it with me and have a terrific TGIF!
Thank you, Kimmie, for posting this interview and for showcasing Forged on your blog, and thank you to everyone for following Forged on tour!
This sounds like an excellent read.
Great interview!
I would love to read this.