Meet the Author: Sariah Wilson, Author of Upcoming Romantasy Novel, ‘A Tribute of Fire’
I don’t know about you, but oftentimes, I don’t think of authors as regular people like us. We often put them on a pedestal, and finding out they’re actually just like us sometimes makes me even more excited to read their books! For a long time, I’ve wanted a way for readers to get to know the writers behind some of their favorite stories, or even discover new ones! I'm thrilled to introduce a new short Q&A series on the blog for y’all to "Meet the Author". This series will bring you closer to the creators behind your favorite fantasy worlds and beyond, offering exclusive insights into their writing processes, inspirations, and personal writing journeys, with the occasional perk (like giveaways, ARC signups, and more). Whether you're an avid reader curious about the minds behind the magic, or an aspiring writer seeking tips from those who've mastered their craft, this Q&A series will be your front-row seat to discovering the heart and soul of the people behind storytelling. I hope you’re ready to meet some voices who shape the books we love, and learn a little bit more about them. Who knows? You might find you have more in common with them than you think! First up, is a ‘new to me’ author who has an upcoming Romantasy coming out! Ready to meet her?
Author: Sariah Wilson
Her book: A Tribute of Fire
First of all, WHAT A STUNNING COVER.
RELEASE DATE: November 1st, 2024, or available now in ebook through the Amazon Prime First Reads program during the month of October (FREE if you’re a Prime member, or $1.99 if not)
So…tell us the cocktail party version of how you’d describe your book:
The fate of a cursed nation depends on a princess who must outwit a mortal enemy and outlast the trials of a death-defying ritual in this thrilling adventure/romantasy.
Most surreal moment as an author so far?
When I got an email from my editor letting me know that my book, Roommaid, was the most read book on Amazon's website in September 2020. I still can't quite wrap my head around that--that so many people read that book!
What books are on your nightstand table right now?
Unfortunately the only book on my nightstand on the moment is the second book in my trilogy, A Vow of Embers. I am editing it and don't have time for anything else!
That’s totally understandable. Tell us about your writing process…
I have a very strange writing process that I do not recommend. My brain knows that I can write a 90,000 word book in 30 days so that it doesn't let me start writing until 30 days before my deadline. And the book is my entire life during that month--I pretty much stop to go to appointments and to eat, but other than that I'm writing. I do shoot for 2,500 to 3,000 words a day and sometimes it's way more and sometimes it's a bit less. I drink a lot of water and light a candle and sit in my dark bedroom to write with a specific playlist going.
Oohhh Ok, we might need a link to that playlist…What's something people don't know about you?
That I once held Adam Driver's hand. (Kidding, he shook my hand. Twice. But doesn't that still kind of count? LOL)
That totally counts! What's a favorite comfort read and why do you keep coming back to it?
I used to have comfort reads and books that I would read over and over again but I honestly haven't done that since I became an author. Writing books makes reading them an entirely different experience. I see the scaffolding and how the book is being constructed rather than being sucked into the story. I'm actually pretty excited when I find a book that makes my brain turn off!
What's the most challenging thing about being an author?
Trying to get your books out there so readers can find them! It's really hard to be discovered and find those specific readers who will love what you've written. I've also been doing this for a while and I had the mistaken belief that writing would get easier the more I did it and if anything, I've found the opposite to be true. Every time I sit down to write a book, I can't believe I've done it before, and don't know if I'll be able to do it again! I also have to worry about repeating jokes or character arcs or plotlines from previous books.
Any influential authors from your childhood?
From my childhood? I would say Terry Brooks. My dad was a huge fantasy reader and I grew up on the Shannara series and loved them so much that I actually considered naming my daughter Shannara! (She's grateful that I didn't. LOL) There are far more influential writers from my adult years than when I was a kid.
Favorite format to read? (physical book, ebook, audiobook)
At the moment ebooks. I love that I can carry so many with me everywhere I go. I like audiobooks when I'm driving, but my mind often wanders so that's not always the best format for me. And I will adore paper books until the day I die, but they're much harder to read late at night and are heavy when I'm traveling!
What’s a hill you will die on?
STAR WARS SPOILER ALERT: That Ben Solo should have lived in the Star Wars sequels and he deserved better and Rey deserved to have her soulmate standing by her side when it ended. It's a hill I'll not only die on, but will defend from all attackers! LOL
Where you can find Sariah:
Full Synopsis of A Tribute of Fire:
“The fate of a cursed nation depends on a princess who must outwit a mortal enemy and outlast the trials of a death-defying ritual in a thrilling adventure by USA Today bestselling author Sariah Wilson.
Lia is the princess of Locris, a dying desert nation cursed centuries ago by an earth goddess—one still worshipped by the thriving and adversarial nation of Ilion. Every year, Ilion offers the goddess a sacrifice: two Locrian maidens forced to compete in a life-and-death race to reach her temple. In a millennium, no maiden has made it out of Ilion alive. This year, Lia is one of the hunted.
An education in battle gives her a fighting chance, but the challenges are greater than she feared: Lia’s beloved but untrained sister Quynh has been put in the path of danger. The winding streets of Ilion itself have been transformed into a labyrinthine maze of countless choices and dead ends. And if the risks weren’t significant enough, Lia is reluctantly drawn to the commandingly attractive Jason, an Ilionian sailor she loathes to trust and desires like no man before.
The tribute game is on. It’s up to Lia to lift the goddess’s curse, restore Locris to its former glory, and change the fate of every young woman destined to follow in her path.”
Oh, and that playlist she mentioned? Here are some of the songs she has on it:
“Some are spoiler-y but there's no context so not really and others are just vibes”
Selena Gomez, Marshmello - Wolves
The Band Perry - If I Die Young
Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams
Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
Ruelle - Storm
Matt Cardle, Melanie C - Loving You
Niall Horan - Too Much To Ask
And the most important one - from the very beginning this has been the FMC and the MMC's song - I listen to it whenever I write a scene with the two of them together!
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