Friday Feature: Journeys Toward Publication and Beyond: Sarah Dooley

Welcome to another Friday Feature.  I am tickled to introduce Sarah Dooley.  I love her! Her depth and humor show through every blog post. When I stop by to read a post, I find myself laughing or crying. Or both.  

She's one of those people that I would just love to meet.  

And I loved her novel, LIVVIE OWEN LIVED HERE. Loved it. 

Let's dig right in, shall we?   

As a child, Sarah Dooley lived 24 different places, including an abandoned post office, a tent, and a red cargo van. She now lives in West Virginia with her partner and their assortment of dogs, cats, and horses. When she is not writing, she has the pleasure of teaching, and being taught by, children with special needs.

Sarah--your debut novel, LIVVIE OWEN LIVED HERE came out August 17th! Woo-hoo! Tell us a little about the book itself.

LIVVIE OWEN LIVED HERE is the story of a teen with autism trying to find a home for her family after an eviction she thinks is her fault.

What sparked your interest to write this particular book?

I wrote LIVVIE as part of a class writing project I required of my students. Because I was writing alongside many writers on the autism spectrum, and because my sister and niece both have forms of autism as well, I began writing from the point of view of a child on the spectrum.

How did you catch the eye of an agent, and what changed in your writing life after your agent came on the scene?

I would be lost without my agent. She provides guidance, support, and clarity as I navigate the publishing world, about which I know little. As for how I caught her eye, I just sent her a query letter and sample pages and I guess she saw something she liked.

Yay, another slush pile success story! What were revisions with an editor like? Was it smooth sailing once a publisher picked up your book?

LIVVIE was my first book, so I had the luxury of having about 15 people read it before I sent it to my agent. Then my agent helped to polish it some more. That meant it had already been through several revisions by the time it sold. After a relatively light round of revisions with my editor, the book was ready to go to the copy editor and beyond.

Because my second book sold before I wrote it, it was a lot less polished when I sent it to my agent and editor. My editor and I recently completed a round of revisions, and let me just say that I need to buy her a nice pen, because she's used up a lot of ink in the margins of this manuscript. But I'll say this, too: I'm in good hands. My editor is wonderful and insightful, and I trust her completely with this book. It's going to be a lot stronger thanks to her skill.

It sounds like you have a wonderful team behind you!  So, what has been your highest high? Your lowest low?

Although there have been a number of amazing joys on this journey, I think the very highest high was getting to tell my parents that the book had sold. I didn't have minutes on my pre-paid cell phone, so I had to wait until a school day to call them and tell them. My mother guessed halfway through my sentence what I was saying, and she finished the sentence with me. It was a very cool moment.

As for lows, last February, right about the time I got a peek at the amazing cover art for LIVVIE, I also got word that a cherished writing mentor and beloved friend had passed away unexpectedly and under tragic circumstances. For a long while after, it was difficult to get excited about Livvie or much of anything else. I mourned my friend and also the books she would never get to write. I briefly considered dedicating the novel to her, but this novel truly belongs to my students.

Sarah--I'm so sorry for your loss--I can't imagine.

  

Has anything surprised you on this journey?

Honestly, there has not been a moment of this journey that has failed to surprise me. I still stop in my tracks when I see my book on a store shelf. I elbow my husband, who is quite patient with my lingering shock. I point and whisper, “Hey, you know who wrote that?” And he rolls his eyes and hides a smile and says, “Who?” And I say, “Me!”

I hope it never completely sinks in.

I love that!  What are you currently working on?

I'm 30,000 words into a new YA novel, and all I'll say about it is that it's a little more fast-paced than my first two books. It's a blast to write!

What made you start to write seriously?

I've always loved to write, but I didn't always dedicate time and energy to it. After spending weeks preaching to my students about taking writing seriously, I started to hear what I was saying. When I jumped into the writing project alongside them, I jumped in wholeheartedly.

What is a favorite blog post that you have written?

My blog was better when I taught public school. I think this post about perspective is my favorite. It involves gym class, phonemic awareness, and mangoes.

What online resource have you found most helpful?

Verla Kay's Blueboards have been invaluable! But I never would have written my first novel if not for National Novel Writing Month, and I spend a lot of time on that site as well.

What has been your biggest trial in writing?

I have a very difficult time getting past page 30. I love writing beginnings. But around page 31, I tend to run out of steam. If I can make it to 45, I can make it to the end.

What tricks have you acquired to make you write or create when you don’t feel up to writing?

I like to use Write or Die by Dr. Wicked, set on kamikaze mode. I don't like to see my words disappear!

You've got guts, using the kamikaze mode! Sarah, what is your practical goal with your writing? Do you have a reach-for-the-stars goal that you would like to share?

My practical goal is to keep writing honestly. My reach-for-the-stars goal is to train my cat to move when I need access to my revision notes.

If you do train your cat, send me the handbook.  I have similar feline troubles!  If you could create the perfect place in which to write, what would it look like?

I've got it already. It's an L-shaped desk in the corner of my office, with a coffee pot on one side of my computer and a cat on the other. I mean, if I could hone it just a bit, the cat would prefer to sit on manuscript pages I've already revised, rather than the ones I'm still working on, but it's pretty close to perfect as-is.

If you could be a character in a book, and live within their world, what character would you be?

I think I would be Ginny from SUMMER PONY by Jean Slaughter Doty. In fact, I spent most of my childhood trying to be Ginny from SUMMER PONY. Some summer days, I still try.

What other distractions are in your life?

My life is rich with wonderful, worthwhile distractions. My partner and I got married this summer after six years together. I'm teaching in a new autism program and I love it so far. I've got a wonderful family, sweet pets, and I live in a beautiful city. Plus my apartment is only six blocks from the public library.

And, just because I’m curious, coffee or tea?

Oh, goodness, coffee. And lots of it. Did I mention that I do not have to get up from my desk chair to pour a second cup?

Heather, thank you so much for the great questions!

Yay, thanks so much for doing this Sarah! I wish you all the best, for you, and for LIVVIE OWEN LIVED HERE!!  Everyone, make sure to leave Sarah a question or comment, and she'll stop by to answer them. Then, make sure to check out her blog and website, facebook, and BOOK.