With Robyn Rossit
Photo by Ming Joanis, A Nerd’s World
Are You Sara? has a unique cast of characters from various backgrounds, as well as an exciting plot. Which came first when planning out your novel, the characters or the plot and how did you go about fleshing out the rest of the story once you had your hook?
The concept of the rideshare switch came first, and I would say the plot and characters emerged naturally from there. I found myself asking: who were these women, and what led them to that very moment? And why would anyone want either of them dead? It doesn’t always work this way for me, but because I had the premise first, I had to work backwards, and I ended up drawing on other fictional characters, situations, relationships, and plots that I’ve thought of before and combining everything. It’s a very messy process–my notebooks probably make no sense–but it was just about getting everything down and working through it, step by step, and creating an outline.
I found the concept of a “rideshare gone wrong” so relevant in today’s society with all the various company’s out there offering this service. What inspired this idea? Was it a casual thought while taking a rideshare yourself or a horror story from someone else’s experience? It certainly kicked off an awesome story!
Thanks! I got the idea when I waiting for a Lyft late one night in Toronto. I saw a woman waiting for a rideshare across the road, and our cars arrived at the same time. I found myself thinking what would have happened if we’d accidentally taken the wrong rides home? That was the genesis of Are You Sara?.
I always love to hear about the research process for a thriller novel. What was the strangest thing you had to Google/look up/deep dive into while writing Are You Sara??
The book is largely set in a fictional New England college town and Boston, but because of the pandemic, I wasn’t able to visit while writing the book. I spent a lot of time ‘walking around’ various places in Massachusetts on Google Maps to try and make sure the setting was as authentic as possible. The process made me want to visit even more!
What challenges did you face writing a book in this genre? Do you think this is unique to thriller stories or a universal challenge when it comes to writing a book and storytelling?
For me, the unique challenge to writing a thriller was figuring out how to layer in the clues to the mystery without the reader knowing. The thrilling part is often how the plot is delivered, rather than the plot itself.
Out of pure curiosity, what would you say is your most interesting writing habit or quirk?
I write best when I’m half awake first thing in the morning. As often as I can, I roll out of bed early, make myself a cup of tea, stay in my PJ’s, and go straight to my computer. If I don’t start early, then I find it very difficult to get into the writing frame of mind later in the day.
Now that you’ve published your thriller, will there be another book in this genre from you in the future or are you thinking of an entirely new concept/genre to tackle?
I have at least one more thriller coming out with HarperCollins! I’m still working my way through my first draft, but I’m having a lot of fun with it. Ideally, I would love to continue writing both rom coms and thrillers as I get to explore different themes and sides of myself, too.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are trying to navigate the publishing world?
Try your best not to worry about things you can’t control. They journey can be long and unpredictable, and all we can do is focus on our writing. Work hard to better your craft, don’t give up, and the rest will follow.
What is your “must-read” book recommendation and what book has had the most impact and influence on your writing?
Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. A beautiful book, and the first time I remember seeing my own sorts of experiences reflected in a book I was reading. I think having books like that empowered me to write my own stories, too.