Sarah grew up in Ohio and received her Bachelor’s degree from Concordia University Chicago. She was married after college, and has lived in Missouri, Michigan, and Alabama before moving to Texas. Along the way, she and her husband had three wonderful children and received guardianship of a fourth. Besides writing, she enjoys volunteering at church, sewing historic clothing, and spending time with her family.
Having written stories almost since picking up her first pencil as a child, Sarah is thrilled to be publishing her first novel, Penelope’s Hope. Look for the release of Violet’s Daybreak, the second installment of the Regency Silhouettes series in the winter of 2015-2016. It is her prayer that her writing will uplift and encourage her readers while also giving glory to God.
For more, visit her at http://sarahebaughman.blogspot.com/
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Welcome to the blog, Sarah. I’m so happy to have you here today. Congratulations on your upcoming release, Violet’s Daybreak.
So tell us how you first got the idea for this story?
Thank you, Savanna! I’m very excited. Violet’s Daybreak was conceived even before the first book in my Regency Silhouettes series. I started writing it before I even was fully aware of the Regency Romance genre, and was born of a love of Jane Austen and my wanting to write about love blooming in unexpected places.
What do you love most about this story?
I really think that it has to be the growth happening for both Violet and her husband (they’re engaged within the first couple of chapters — that’s not too much of a spoiler, is it?). I love stories of how God uses the difficult and even painful times of our lives to grow us into the people He wants us to be. That’s at the heart of Violet’s Daybreak, and even of all my writing. Our God is a God who gets down and dirty with His people, meeting them in the muck and mire of their lives. And everyone, no matter how good or happy or seemingly perfect, has personal struggles. In the heart, in the mind, in the soul. We all battle demons. But God is right there with us, in the trenches, lifting us up and giving us strength and courage to do the impossible — even for a shy, self-deprecating girl to learn to be a woman who can live up to the tasks set before her, whatever they may be.
Who is one of your favorite authors? It’s okay if you want to name more than one. 😉
Oh goodness, that’s a difficult question; so many books are near and dear to my heart. I grew up with Laura Ingalls Wilder and LM Montgomery, then was introduced to the Christian Fiction genre by Janette Oke and Laurianne Snelling. In college, I read as much as I could, which wasn’t all that much, considering my course load. After settling into married life, I was able to read some more and discovered Francine Rivers and Lawana Blackwell, as well as Lori Wick and so many more. As I started writing and in my research discovered the Regency Romance genre, I came to love Georgette Heyer’s writing, and really enjoy much of Julie Klaassen’s books. Most recently, I’ve really been enjoying Jody Hedlund’s books.
Ahhh, you shared some good ones! 😉 I read on your website that you lived in Missouri for awhile. I was born and raised there myself. 😉 What was one of your favorite places to go to in MO?
Missouri was where I spent my first year of marriage, while my husband finished his Master’s Degree. I have two sets of aunts and uncles there, though, one from each of my parents’ sides, so we visited the St. Louis area frequently as I was growing up. I enjoy the zoo, of course, but during the year that I lived there, my husband and I really enjoyed exploring the Central West End’s pubs and eateries, and we’d go downtown now and again, too, to visit the Arch and see some of the landmarks. He’s a history professor now, so any historic landmarks are always fun.
You have 4 little kiddos, right? Do you remember what your favorite book was to read when you were a child?
Our kids range from 15 to 4, so some aren’t so little, but yes. They keep us busy! I remember both of my parents reading extensively to both my sister and me. My grandparents also read a lot to us. My dad would read the entirety of The Monster at the End of this Book in a Grover voice, which I thought was great fun. My mom read so many books to us that I can’t really recall one specific one, aside from Hop on Pop and One Fish Two Fish.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Sarah! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
I have been working on plotting for Book Three in the Regency series. Nothing is nailed down on that front, aside from the two main characters (I’m not even sure what will be the title). But I can say that it will be a bit more broken, that the characters will have farther to go in their growth-journey than Penelope or Violet did. I’m also planning to start some preliminary research for a new series that I’m excited to get started; my plan is to travel with my kiddos to the St. Louis area this summer to do some on-location research.
That sounds like fun! Hope you all have a great time. 🙂 Happy writing and researching!
GIVEAWAY!!
Sarah has graciously offered to give away a copy of Violet’s Daybreak to one lucky reader! Enter below and it could be YOU!
Thanks for entering! Contest is open to US residents only and ends August 9, 2016. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
I loved Heidi.
Hi Melanie! Yes, that’s a classic for sure. Thanks for sharing!
I loved all of the Bobbsey Twins books!
I don’t remember reading those, Joan. I’ll have to look those up. 🙂
I remember when I discovered the Laura Wilder books. So good!
Yes, Ola, those were some of my favorites too. 🙂
I loved An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott, The Golden Road by L.M. Montgomery, and so many others! 🙂
I love both of those authors, but those particular titles I haven’t read. Thanks for sharing, Alicia!
Little Women was one I read and re-read as a girl. I also loved The Wizard of Oz, but not just the first book. The whole series was fascinating to me!
I very much enjoyed this interview, and now I must get my hands on this series! 😉
Thanks so much for joining us, Diana. 🙂 Little Women was one of my favorites too. I’ve not read the Wizard of Oz series, but I’ve heard a lot about it.
Being a girl, it’s odd, but I loved Where the Wild Things Are. I always wanted to be the boy Max (can’t remember the author’s name).
I haven’t read that one, but I’ll have to check it out now. Thanks, Debbie! 😉
As a very young child, I loved Green Eggs and Ham, and anything else by Dr Seuss.
As I got older and a more advanced reader, I really enjoyed Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie series, as well as Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary.
Awww, you mentioned several good ones, Connie. I’m still a fan of Dr. Seuss books. 😉 Can’t wait to read them to my kids someday!
I too loved LM Montgomery when I was a child.
Yes! So good! Thanks for visiting, Caitlin.
I loved Heidi and the Nancy Drew books. Thank you for sharing.
I’ve heard so much about the Nancy Drew books. I can’t wait to discover new books with my kids someday. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Anne!
The Bobbsey Twins.
That’s a new one to me, Brenda. You have me intrigued now. 😉
I loved Baby Island. It is about 2 girls shipwrecked on an island with 4 babies. It was my dream. 🙂 I have 7 kids today.
Becky
Awww, that sounds like a neat one. I haven’t heard of that one before either. Thanks for sharing, Becky!
I didn’t have a favorite as a child.
It’s hard to pick just one, isn’t it? 😉 Thanks for visiting, Kim!
I loved the Ramona Quimby books when I was a little girl. 😃
Hmmm, I don’t think I’ve heard of that one before, Jennifer. I’ll have to look that one up too. My list is growing longer every minute. 😉
Clara Barton, along with Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins books.
wfnren at aol dot com
Adding these to my list for my own kids someday! Thanks, Wendy!
Oh what a difficult question to answer… I think my favorite is Black Beauty. My mom had a leather bound copy of it that I wore out the edges on because I read it so much. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!
How neat! I always loved that story too. Thanks for stopping by, Loraine. Good luck in the giveaway!
I loved reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys!
How fun! Thanks for sharing, Nancy!
My favorite books as a child were the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Clearly. I was heart sick when my daughter didn’t share the same excitement for them. But, when they came out with the movie, she had to read the book first! 🙂
Awww, well I’m glad she finally came around to enjoying the stories, Wenona. 🙂 That’s cool!
Sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win
Glad you stopped by, Kim. Good luck in the drawing!
Little Women,The Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew
Joan
Those are popular favorites. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Joan!
I think I enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre the best. 🙂
Awww, I LOVE them! 😉 Thanks for visiting, Amada.
I think I enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre the best. 🙂
Many Blessings, Amada (a.m.a.th.a)
amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom
Good luck in the giveaway, Amada!
I love so many of those ‘favorite authors’! I love the interview!
One of my favorite authors is Francine Rivers. I liked what you said about God being in the trenches with you. A Scripture I hold on to is Exodus 14:4
I meant Exodus 14:14
Yes, I love her too, Sonnetta. Thank you for sharing that verse. What a wonderful encouragement to hold on to! 🙂
I loved the Little House on the Prairie series, the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, and The Baby-Sitters Club books!
The Little House books were some of my favorites too, Heidi. 🙂
When I was real young “Wizard of Oz ” was my favorite. “Voices in the Night” an unground railroad book was a favorite too. I can’t remember the author.
I hate to admit I’ve never read Wizard of Oz, but I need to! 😉 I’ll have to look up “Voice in the Night” as well. Thanks, Brenda!
Favorite book as a child, definitely Charlotte’s Web!! I had a used copy that I kept for many years, not sure what happened to it, but I’m sure it was rather well-worn by the time I was done with it 🙂 I also watched the animated movie when it came out years later & loved it just as much!
Fun author interview with a new-to-me writer! Thanks for the introduction and book giveaway!
Hi Trixi! So happy to see you stop by for a visit. I love that you enjoyed that copy of Charlotte’s Web until it was well-worn out. What a special heirloom for your family too! 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!