#Interview with Sarah Newland, #Author of Extant - #YoungAdult #SciFI

About the Author:

SARAH NEWLAND is a young adult fiction author based in coastal Virginia. She works full-time as a licensed veterinary technician, fuelled by a passion for education and wildlife conservation. An avid traveler and skeptic at heart, Newland seeks to inspire critical thinking and a rediscovery of adventure in the ordinary. EXTANT is her debut novel.

Sarah on the Web:
Website * Instagram * Goodreads * Bookbub

Interview with Sarah Newland

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

Writing is something I’ve done as a hobby for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t start taking it seriously until I was in high school. I wrote a particularly entertaining story about a day in the life of a household sponge in 8th grade, and my teacher recommended I make the hobby permanent. I owe her a huge thank you for the assignment and the encouragement. She was the first person to tell me to go for it and I’ll cherish that moment as long as I live.

What inspires you to write?

I consider myself a semi-professional daydreamer fueled by music and coffee. I’ll generally imagine up a scene or two on a long car ride and the rest will reveal itself slowly, like a mountain shrouded in mist. I love the feeling of finding all of the answers to a story and questioning every turn of events. That’s something I hope to inspire in my readers as well. I want them to question things and to find adventure in the ordinary.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

Extant was inspired by my desire to encourage critical thinking and an adventurous spirit, even for those reluctant to seek it. I love finding adventure in my own backyard and wanted to really hit coastal Virginia with a new story, something to shake our foundation. I practically grew up by the ocean and have always been captivated by just how much is out there that we don’t know. I mean, we’re still discovering new species and rediscovering species once believed to be extinct...such as the coelacanth fish (hint, hint). I’m captivated by how much we don’t yet understand about our universe and the fact that life always finds a way.

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?

Yes. Absolutely yes. And they will stay there - including the original version of this story that I finished almost five years before Extant was published. However, without that first version Extant wouldn’t exist. Sometimes you and your stories need time to grow. In this particular case, I wasn’t entirely sure of what I wanted to say with that first story attempt. It took some self-discovery and practice to finally find my message.

Tell us about your writing process.

Once I’ve been struck by the inspiration fairy and have thought out the general aspects of my story, I’ll craft my outlines. I create a general plot outline, as well as individual character and subplot outlines, and in the end...well, my walls end up looking like I’m about to rob a bank. But the real trick is keeping the husband from peeking at the plot details!
After I’m confident in my outline, I write my first draft. Which generally involves throwing parts of that beautiful outline out the window now and again. The first draft is the hardest part for me. There’s something intimidating about a blank page and the process seems to go on forever.
Then come revisions, which is one of my favorite parts. I assess the work for plot holes and determine its strengths and weaknesses, then I start checking items off the list. It’s so great to finally have material to work with after trudging through the first draft! I’ll generally do three to four rounds of heavy revisions before my husband is finally allowed to read it. He’s the first pass. If it doesn’t impress the husband, it’s back to the drawing board.
After the husband (and the rest of my critique crew) give the thumbs up, it’s on to editing! I combine both my own and outsourced copy editing to ensure a polished product.
Of all of the steps, I think outlining is the most fun because I’m inventing the story and anything could happen, but revising seems to be the most satisfying. That’s when I truly start to see the story take shape and know what I want it to be.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

I think my favorite scene might be the very first one. Natalie’s locked away in an enigmatic cell, certain the obscure organization that hunted her will kill her for her power. She’s been separated from her friends, her family, and the catalyst for her power, yet she’s only concerned about getting out. She’s determined to find her parents before they’re captured, even if she isn’t sure who she can trust.
I love it because that’s Natalie. Page one, scene one, that’s her. Family first and failure isn’t an option. No matter what.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

Natalie inherited my timidness, however she’s forced to outgrow that pretty quickly. I did steal several of my husband’s quirks though. Many of the jokes and references in Extant are ones that originated with him, particularly when it comes to the banter between Natalie and her friends. Naturally, he thinks those are the best parts of the story. I can always tell he’s discovered one of his thought cameos when he’s chuckling mid-read.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

When typing my first draft, I’ll change font color every day so I can more easily track my progress at a glance. Plus, it’s fun to have a rainbow colored novel.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

I read every day! My favorite authors are Dan Brown, D. J. MacHale, and Michael Crichton. Crichton inspired my love of factual based science fiction and MacHale is a master of adventure and fun while keeping the stakes high. Dan Brown keeps the pace fast and the mysteries coming, which I find addictive. Each have inspired me both as a writer and as a person. Jurassic Park is actually referenced specifically in Extant as Natalie’s favorite novel; they share a common theme of creating something controversial to the continuance of life as we know it.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

That if you want to be a writer, you have to write. You can’t wait for the muse to come to you or you’ll never complete anything. You have to train your brain for writing like you would train for anything else. Hold yourself accountable, practice, READ. So I write every single day, even if it's just a few sentences. You command the muse, it does not command you.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Be patient with yourself. Athletes do not become Olympians overnight. They practice and train and it’s the same with writing. Seek feedback from friends and strangers alike, write every day, and read everything you can get your hands on. Writing requires practice and dedication, but the feeling of holding your first finished work is unparalleled.

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?

If such an incredible thing were to happen, I would want an entirely fresh cast, preferably the same age as the characters. The Coelacanth Project has been an entirely new adventure for me and I would want to keep that momentum going.

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?

A book (something I haven’t read), a camera, and the husband. No one said I had to carry the things gracefully. I’d be lost (and incredibly bored) without him.

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?

I love traveling, preferably to Europe when I can, but I’m no stranger to an impromptu day trip. At home I like paddle boarding and yoga, and reading of course, and occasionally painting. I’m currently trying not to kill my growing plant collection. I’m moving up to succulents...cross your fingers.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I want to see a wild puffin. I know it’s random, but goals are goals. Give me the puffins.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

- Formerly a zookeeper, I’m now a licensed veterinary technician and I’m working on specializing in clinical pathology. I want to apply my skills towards the conservation efforts of endangered and at risk species. You know...keeping my furry, scaled, and feathered friends extant rather than extinct.
- I have two cats: Big Kitty and Little Kitty. (I promise my characters have better names...even the animal ones.) And sadly, Big Kitty is actually smaller than Little Kitty. Consider it the enigma of my life.
- I am a huge astronomy nerd and have traveled to see a total solar eclipse as well as numerous meteor showers. I’m also quite scared of the dark so the hobby is a little taxing on the nerves.

What do you have in store next for your readers?

I’m currently working on Chymist, Book Two of The Coelacanth Project! Natalie is determined to mend their fractured family, yet the secret she carries weighs her down. The last thing she wants is to put her friends in danger, but the path to peace is carved with blood and paved in silver, and the only way out is through Nautilus. Juggling her freedom, her friends, and her relentless search for the truth, it takes everything Natalie has to stay afloat.
No matter how hard she fights her fate, it threatens to pull her under.
All of our demons grow restless eventually.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?

If you want to be a writer, write. If you want to be a painter, paint. If you’re working a regular job and think you don’t have time to also be that writer or that painter, you do. Trust me. I work full-time as a veterinary technician and maintain my writing career AND make sure my husband gets walked regularly. You can do it. No one ever said you could only be one thing. I’m a vet tech, an author, a cat mom, a lack-luster cook, a coffee addict, astronomy nerd, and a hundred other things. You’ve got this.
Welcome to The Coelacanth Project. You’re about to question everything.

About the Book:

Every family has secrets and Natalie Morrigan was used to being kept in the dark. But when her childhood home is destroyed following the mysterious disappearance of her parents, Natalie soon discovers her secrets are darker than most. With nowhere else to turn, Natalie and her four lifelong friends seek out their estranged Uncle for guidance and he cannot wait to tell her the truth: her entire life has been a lie.
Genetically adapted with a power that will change the world, Natalie is hunted by Nautilus, an organization that claims it will use her power to achieve an everlasting peace. But if Natalie has learned anything, it’s that things aren’t always what they seem.