Sara Bennett

I enjoy the idea of being transported back into the past. Research is interesting and placing my characters in different historical periods is fun. I like the Regency era particularly because I am a great Jane Austen fan, and of course Bridgerton!

Once I have an idea for a story I look at the time it is set in and do my research. As much as I enjoy delving into the past I try to restrict myself to the important details like the background of world events at the time, what people are wearing, what they are eating and so on. It’s easy to overwhelm a story with too much research.

I usually work in the morning. I used to work far longer but over the years I’ve developed issues with my back and hands, so I need to be sensible. When I get up I look at my emails, and if I have anything that needs doing immediately, I do that, then I work on my book until midday. I can write quite quickly if I’m immersed in the story. Then I spend the afternoon doing other things: Working in the garden, cooking, and visiting with friends and family. If I have an urgent deadline I may do some more writing.

I love a happy ending. I think most people want to finish a book and feel happy and hopeful. There seems to be a perception that happy endings aren’t ‘real life’ but I disagree.

The characters. If the characters are well written and come alive, if they strike a chord with a lot of readers, then the story will be memorable.

I think you can stay within believable historical limits in a romance. Some writers don’t worry about that, but I like to make sure that my stories are at least possible. And readers will come along for the ride if they are invested in the story.

I prefer Regency. I feel comfortable in that period, and of course there’s my favorite Jane Austen book, Persuasion, with my favorite troupe—second chance romance.

This book was a project with my editor. She came up with the basic storyline and then I expanded on it. I hadn’t done this before and in some ways it was difficult, but perhaps that was a good lesson for me. Writing is a learned thing from experience and trial and error.

I particularly enjoy settings where the characters are forced into a situation where they can’t escape. Wild weather has them trapped in an inn or a country house party where they can’t leave. My novels usually have some angst in them. I find it difficult to write something that is completely without drama.

It was a fun book to write and I admit I had a bit of help from another writer friend when I got stuck. The falling down castle was fun, and the sword in the loch was a little like Arthur and Excalibur. For those who haven’t read the book, Rory and Olivia fall in love but then Olivia learns it was all planned on his part, and he married her for her money. But she still wants him, she doesn’t believe he doesn’t feel something for her, and she knows his family legend about a fabled sword is important to him. It carries the luck of his family and he wants to find it. So she sets off for his falling down castle in Scotland to help make his dream come true.

It can be tricky with real historical figures. I do use them occasionally, for instance in “A Seduction in Scarlet” Queen Victoria appears as a grumpy little lady. Some readers didn’t like this, but I enjoyed playing with the character and making her more human. I don’t think I’d want to write a whole book about a real person. I’d feel too restricted.

It is fine to set your story in its historical setting but I like to do this with a light hand. Too much detail can overwhelm the characters. Once they’re in place I let them loose to choose their own paths.

I don’t set out to focus on a specific theme but my stories are often about home. Finding a home, returning to a home and so on. I don’t believe love conquers all but my characters like to try.

It’s lovely when a reader writes to me or stops me and tells me how much they loved my book. Writing is a lonely business, and you are never sure when your book goes out into the world how it will be received. I did once receive a letter from a nurse in the US, who was the carer to a disabled woman. She spent a lot of time reading romances to her patient, who loved my books. I sent her some signed copies and she responded with a photograph of her charge smiling back at me. That was moving.

I like the support All Author offers to their authors, and as I am not a tech savvy person, I appreciate how easy it was to upload my information. If I want to boost my publicity for a particular book I can do that through them. Time is always my issue—there’s never enough!