If you could have chosen your own name, what would it be?
I’ve always liked my first name. When I was little, I was
the only Sarah in my school. My name was unique, but known enough that people
could pronounce it. Sarah didn’t become a popular baby name until I was in high
school (yes, that dates me).
What was your first pet’s name?
We had a cat named Felix. Hardly original, but I believe he
came with the name attached.
What was your best friend’s name in elementary school?
I was blessed to live in a neighborhood with several girls
the same age as my sister and me—Kristin and Anne and Anne-Marie. We’ve found
each other again now, thanks to Facebook!
Did you have a special toy that went everywhere with you
when you were young?
Lambie. A stuffed lamb. I carried him by his leg, and wore
through the fabric. So I patched it. I still have him, but I’m afraid his
stuffing has turned to powder, and it’s leaking through the fabric. He needs
more patching.
What's your favorite movie?
I don’t know if it really qualifies as a movie, but the BBC
version of Pride and Prejudice is my
all-time favorite.
What's the bravest thing you've ever done?
When I started seventh grade, my biggest fear was taking a
shower in the locker room. I was horribly shy, extremely unpopular, small for
my age, and flat as a board. The thought of taking off my towel almost made me
ill. Then that first day of gym class, we all stood in our towels in front of
the showers—and every single girl looked as terrified as I did! The popular
girls, the bold girls, the curvy girls—all terrified. And no one moved. I have
no idea how long we stood there. Finally, I just got annoyed. For heaven’s
sake, someone had to go first. So I
flung off my towel and strode in. That was all people could talk about for the
rest of the week. “Sarah went in
first? Sarah?” I earned a bit of
respect that day.
If you were stranded on a desert island what would you take
with you, besides your Bible?
Pen and paper. Any one book (other than the Bible) would get
boring after a while, but I could keep making up stories!
If you could meet a famous person, who would it be?
This question is always hard for me, because I’m not a
celebrity watcher, and I’ve already met most of my author heroes (yay!).
If you could live in one era what would you choose?
I really should say World War II, but the wimpy part of me
would probably choose the nice safe 1950s, the peaceful era the WWII generation
fought to usher in. But of course, I’d love to witness so much in the 1940s
also. From a safe distance.
When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew
up?
Depending on my age, a ballerina, a mommy, and a
protozoologist. That’s a scientist who studies protozoa, the one-celled animals
in the sea. I was an odd child.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really
strikes you about their work?
Perhaps it’s cliché, but I adore Jane Austen. The romance,
the dialogue, the spot-on characterization, and the wicked humor. And I also
like how she doesn’t glorify “bad boys” in her novels. In Austen’s stories, the
rogues end up being rogues, and the heroes are the unassuming men, the quiet
men, the men with poor social skills—who have integrity.
How did you get interested in writing WWII era books?
When I had the initial story idea for A Distant Melody, I knew it couldn’t work in a contemporary setting
but had to be historical. I gravitated to WWII for several reasons. First, it’s
always fascinated me. Second, it was recent enough that I knew people who had
lived through it. And third, I thought I wouldn’t have to do too much research
because I’d talked to my grandparents and read a few books. Yeah. I was stupid.
But I’m glad I was, because if I’d known how much research I had to do, I
wouldn’t have started.
Who has been your best supporter? How have they been there
for you?
My mom. Both my parents are huge readers, and our home had
gobs of books, so I grew up with a love of story. Then when I started writing
novels, my mom was so enthusiastic and even connected me with a published
author she knew. Now she’s my biggest publicist. She chats up my books and
passes out dozens of bookmarks. She even arranged my last speaking engagement
for me. No, I won’t share her.
What gift have you received that you will always treasure?
I have a ring that’s been in my family for generations.
What book are you reading now? What are your thoughts on it?
With both a deadline and a book release this week, I’m not
reading anything. That makes me sad. The most recent novel I read was Julianna
Deering’s Murder at the Mikado, which
is a lot of fun—reminiscent of Agatha Christie but with a modern feel.
What was your most embarrassing moment in High School?
Must we go there? I’m not even sure which one to choose,
because high school itself was kind of my most embarrassing era. What about the
time I tripped and fell on my face during a ballet audition for the school
musical? Or the time I had an “accident” on the volleyball courts? Or the time
I sang out during the grand pause at the end of the Hallelujah Chorus? Or the time I…? Are you getting the picture?
How did your husband propose to you?
Reading
all this, are you surprised anyone
proposed to me? I still am! Anyway, my sweet husband sent me on a scavenger
hunt in his apartment, using clues to send me from location to location—and the
last spot held an engagement ring. He likes to say I never said yes. When he
asked me, I just nodded and cried and kissed him over and over. I think that’s
yes enough, don’t you?
Sarah's Bio:
Sarah Sundin is the author of six
historical novels, including In Perfect
Time (Revell, August 2014). Her novel On
Distant Shores was a double finalist for the 2014 Golden Scroll Awards. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at
the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. Sarah lives in northern California with her
husband and three children. When she isn’t ferrying kids to tennis and karate,
she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school and women’s
Bible studies. You can find her at http://www.sarahsundin.com
World War II flight nurse Lt. Kay
Jobson collects hearts wherever she flies, but C-47 pilot Lt. Roger Cooper
seems immune to her charms. Still, as they cross the skies between Italy
and southern France,
evacuating the wounded and delivering paratroopers and supplies, every beat of
their hearts draws them closer. Can they confront the fears and
misunderstandings of the past in order to take hold of the future?