Author Interview: Sarah Ettritch
Your Name (as it appears on your books):
Sarah Ettritch
Your Blog or Author Website (no purchase links):
Your Facebook (if applicable):
http://www.facebook.com/sarah.ettritch
Your GoodReads (if applicable):
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3320728.Sarah_Ettritch
How would you describe what you write?
I write science fiction and fantasy stories that focus on people and their
internal struggles. I pretty much write what I like to read, which means
lots of dialogue, straightforward prose, and sparse description. My stories
often contain a dash of romance.
Do you prefer chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate. But…can I have both?
What one writing tip do you have for new authors?
Read a lot. When I first started to write, the reading experience was ruined
for me because I couldn’t help but read with a writer’s eye. Over time, I’ve
learned to silence the writer part of me when I settle down with a book, but
I do notice interesting words and think, “Ooh, I’ll have to use that
sometime.” I also pay attention if the story starts to drag. I try to figure
out why, so I can avoid the same “mistake” in my own work. Writers can learn
so much from reading that I’m always flabbergasted when I hear a writer say
in an interview that he or she “doesn’t have time to read.”
Did you self or traditionally publish, and why did you choose that route?
So far I’ve self-published, but I’ll release a novella through a traditional
publisher later this year. I chose to self-publish because I write niche
fiction, and going with a traditional publisher isn’t as advantageous as it
used to be, especially in the eBook arena.
Do you have a blog, and how has it helped with your promotional efforts?
I have a blog, mainly to keep readers informed about what I’m working on and
when to expect my next release. I haven’t really made a conscious effort to
use it to promote my work. My blog is part of my website, and I’ve found it
effective to post excerpts of my work (usually chapter one) at the site.
People often buy through my buy link after reading an excerpt.
What one thing are you OCD about, in general?
I’m OCD about a lot of things. If I had to choose one, I’d say that I bite
my fingernails the most when publishing a print book. I want the cover to be
perfect, the interior to be perfect, oh my god, is my name spelled right?
You get the picture.
What would you do differently if you had to start over?
I wouldn’t do anything differently, but I’d probably be a lot less stressed
out about the whole thing than I was when I started the first time!
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