Sarah Sundin - Author Interview

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Sarah Sundin is a bestselling author of World War II novels, including The Sound of Light. Her novel Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists, and The Sky Above Us received the Carol Award. Sarah lives in California and serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. http://www.sarahsundin.com

Tell about yourself, your family, pets, favorite foods, hobbies, where you grew up, etc., and 1-3 things about yourself that have nothing to do with writing.

My husband and I live in Southern California with our two rescue dogs. Our three adult children live on their own, and our first grandchild was born in December—and he’s absolutely adorable! My hobbies include traveling, walking with the dogs, cooking, and baking. I grew up in Southern California, then went to Northern California to go to school—and stayed. Then our children went to Southern California to go to school—and stayed. So this summer, we followed them and moved south.

What genre(s) do you write?

I write historical fiction set during World War II.

Are you Indy, traditionally published, or both?

Traditional.

What are you working on now?

My latest novel, The Sound of Light, just released, so I’m doing publicity for that story. I’m also finishing up my next World War II novel, which will be released in February 2024. It follows a Dutch refugee searching for her little son and a BBC radio correspondent in London during the Blitz.

Do you read outside of your genre? If so, what other genres do you like to read?

I do when I can! I spend a lot of my reading time reading for endorsement and to support my fellow authors—so a lot of historical fiction. However, I also love contemporary stories, women’s fiction, and suspense.

Did the first book you wrote get published? How long were you writing before you were published?

My first two novels have never and should never be published, and that’s all right. They were my starter novels, and by writing them, I learned how to write and edit a novel. The time spent writing them was not wasted at all.

When you are writing, do you like complete silence, or do you like to listen to music? If so, what kind of music do you like? What are your favorite writing snacks?

I prefer silence to music. Music draws me in, and I find myself humming along—it pulls me out of the story. However, I don’t mind background noise. Right now, I can hear the neighborhood kids outside practicing roller hockey, my husband doing chores in the backyard, and the dogs “helping” him. That doesn’t bother me at all.

How much research did you need to do for your book? 

For each novel, I enter about fifty books and websites into my bibliography. I begin the research process when I’m writing the proposal that determines whether my publisher gives me a new contract. That preliminary research helps me see if my basic story idea works in the framework of history. Then in the year or three between signing the contract and writing the novel, I collect research books and online materials to read later. When I begin working on that particular novel, I begin deep research. This continues through the outlining, rough drafting, and editing phases—a year total for me.

 What do you do to get inside your character’s heads? 

Characters are the heart of the story. Since I’m an outliner/plotter—a writer who does a great deal of work before starting the rough draft—I spend a lot of my prewriting time getting to know my characters. I fill out lengthy character questionnaires for my hero and heroine, give them personality tests, and analyze the story from their point of view. But when I start writing the rough draft, things shift a bit. I feel as though I’m finally meeting them in person for the first time. In the first few chapters, I feel my way around, trying to capture their voices—and I often feel as if I’m waiting for the characters’ permission to tell their stories.

What inspired the idea for your book?

The Sound of Light was inspired by the real-life stories that came out of Denmark during World War II, including the Danish resistance and the astonishing rescue of the Danish Jews. The hero, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt, was inspired by the real-life Knud Christiansen, a Danish Olympic rower who sheltered dozens of Jews and rowed them across to Sweden. The heroine, Dr. Else Jensen, is a physicist at the Institute for Theoretical Physics, directed by real-life Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr—and Else is persuaded to print copies of a resistance newspaper. There are multiple “Little Mermaid” references in honor of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and the famous Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen Harbor, which plays a role in the novel.

What is the best money you’ve ever spent with regard to your writing?

Writers conferences, without a doubt. Disclaimer—I serve as co-director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. But the reason I do so is because of the immense benefit conferences have provided in my life and in the lives of my friends. At conferences, you get intensive teaching to learn about the writing craft, the publishing industry, and how to build your platform. You also meet industry professionals, like agents, editors, and published authors. Most importantly, from my standpoint, you meet fellow writers on the journey and build community, which is essential in this solitary and emotionally draining job.

In WWII Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt assumes the identity of a common shipyard worker, rowing messages to Sweden for the Resistance. His life depends on keeping his secret hidden--a task that proves challenging when he meets Else Jensen, an American physicist who seems to see right through him.