Sarah Black the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
When I'm hungry? Pizza, Brownies, McD's French Fries
When I'm happy? Funny, Generous, Wild-at-Heart
When I'm crafty? Weaving, Quilting, Spinning
When I'm writing? Obsessed, Focused, Overjoyed
When I'm Mom? Tough Love, Sweet Love, Love, Love, Love
When I'm a Woman? Don't bug me, unless you're tough, smart, and sexy. Like me.
2. How do you think others would describe you?
It's the strangest thing, people either adore me or they're afraid of me! I don't get it.
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
Being my son's mom, and my work- I'm a Family Nurse Practitioner, and I work at a clinic for people without health insurance. I do good work every day, for people who deserve the very best care I can give them.
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
No, thank goodness. Unless a teenaged son would be considered...?
5. What is your most precious memory?
When I held my son for the first time- he was wrapped up in a white blanket like a tiny loaf of bread, with his red hair sticking out the end, and he looked exactly like I knew he would look. My heart's never been the same.
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
About two hours before I held my son for the first time- the cord prolapsed, then the baby's heartbeat was dropping. So I was on my hands and knees on the gurney, and the midwife was holding the cervix, with her hand inside my vagina- (yes, that is what I mean) and my bare ass was sticking up from the hospital gown, and they were racing through the halls of the hospital to the OR- at the hospital where I worked. Lordy Lordy. But all was well.
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
I always wanted to run a small bookstore. If I did, I would be reading instead of writing.
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
Eek! No way, bad luck!
Sarah Black the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
I published a flash fiction story at the online journal Flashquake, and a short story at Word Riot in the same month. I figured if two different editors wanted to publish my stories, I was on the right track.
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
I'm writing something very exciting and different for me- a serial Western pulp called The Curse of the Guadalajara Rose. It has lots of action and violence, no romance at all, and it has cliff hangers at the end of each chapter. I'm really learning a lot about writing action.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
I guess my goal is always the same- to have each story I write be better than the last one.
I usually have some story element I'm working on- conflict, or using humor, or plotting and writing action. I also don't want to be known as being able to write one thing. I want to have the skills to write anything. I think readers know when writers are giving it their best. I want to keep giving my best, and having that get better and better with each story.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
I work at my day job from 0800-1200, home by 1:00. I write from then until five or six, and if the story is going well, my kid can throw together a couple of pb&j's for dinner and I'll write until bedtime. Some weekends I work at the clinic, and some I write- it's good to go do something real. Keeps my sense of perspective intact.
13. Why do you write?
I like to tell stories. I think fiction, the ideas that come out in storytelling, can change people, can heal people. Ideas can change the world, and for me, the best ideas come out in the stories.
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
I really love Jim Harrison and Sherman Alexie- they both love stories, love people, believe in people, despite all evidence. And they both seem to have their sense of humor intact. And the care they take with the writing- I feel the same way. It's important, being a writer. Readers deserve the very best.
15. How do you define your writing?
I'm not sure I can- but I think I'm about the storytelling. Let me tell you a story.
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
That story touched me. It felt real.
Sarah Black the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
My website has flash fiction- http://www.sarahblack.net/. But if you want to get to know me, read some of my stories.
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
sarahblack5@yahoo.com I'm happy to say hi.
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
Fearless, (3 story anthology) MLR Press in print
Fearless , Liquid Silver Books in ebook
Border Roads, Loose ID
The Lincoln County Wars, Loose ID
Colorado Gold, Loose ID
Slow Fires, Loose ID
St. Sebastian and the Ravioli of Love, Amazon Shorts
Wolf, Torquere Press
Memories of a Colorado Sky, Torquere Press
Animal Attraction, ("White Mountain"), Torquere Press
Partners in Crime 1- print MLR press
Partners in Crime 1- ebook, Loose ID
Partners in Crime 2- print MLR Press
Death of a Blues Angel- ebook, Aspen Mountain Press
Oh, something exciting- a free novella and story at All Romance Ebooks- Gregori's Ghost is a m/m action/adventure novella, and Infidelity is a romance, of sorts. Both great stories, and my gift to you
And lots of good flash fiction on my website
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
Don't expect the usual, and keep an open mind. Go read the free books- that's what I write.
