Interview the author Series: Sarah Grace Grzy

Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace Grzy is officially released! A while back you may have seen my post about the cover reveal for Never Say Goodbye (see that post here). Now, it is available for purchase!

I had the wonderful privilege to interview Sarah and get her take on writing and publishing her second book. But, before we get to the interview, check out the awesome book trailer for Never Say Goodbye.

Stay tuned until the end of this post for more info about how you can get your very own copy of Never Say Goodbye!

Let me take a moment to introduce you to Sarah before we dive into the interview!

Sarah Grace Grzy is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called 'Life,' she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a wood stove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.

Interview

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H: First off, congratulations on self-publishing your second book! That is truly an accomplishment! Let's go back in time and tell me about how you got started writing.

S: Thanks so much! So, I first started writing in the fall of 2017, I think. All throughout high school, I HATED writing. You couldn't make me even write a book report. I just didn't like it and didn't want to. But somehow, the wheels just started turning in my brain . . . I had a very clear vision for the story . . . and I wrote my first book. :) It still blows my mind a little, because I never thought I'd find myself here, not only a writer but now having published two books.

After you wrote your first book, Live Without You, did you expect to write your second book?

I was hesitant at first, but I think in the back of my mind I knew I wanted to write Tyler's story. I kept it very hush-hush at first, as I didn't know if I was going to publish it and I didn't want to get everyone's hopes up. ;) But the further I wrote and prayed, I knew his story needed to be published too. And here we are!

What were the differences between writing your first book and your second book? Was it easier this time around?

Um, no! Lol! It was definitely a lot harder and a lot more messy this time around. I'm not sure why, but I guess every story is different. I remember struggling at times writing my first book, but I don't remember any major I-am-pulling-out-my-hair I-want-to-quit moments. But I did have a few of those with my second book . . . I spent a lot of time brainstorming with the best friend and writing partner, and that largely kept me going! I also had to edit a LOT more with my second book than my first. So much needed to be changed or adjusted, whereas with my first book, it was really just surface editing.

In Never Say Goodbye, you write about some heavy topics such as grief and bitterness. How did you prepare to write about those topics?

I'm not sure if I know the answer to this question. I think in a small way, my own life experiences always tie into the themes in my story. That being said, I haven't however been abandoned by my dad or lost a close family member like a spouse. I tend to feel things very deeply, including other people's pain, and internalize their feelings. And I think out of that comes some of the deeper themes I write. I will be honest and say I often second-guessed myself when writing Never Say Goodbye. Having never experienced the depth of loss Tyler specifically experienced, I didn't want to do the story--and others who have lost--an injustice by not portraying the emotions and experiences correctly. But the themes of hope, forgiveness, and love were so important to me that I kept pushing through.

 Who would you say is your target audience with this book and why?

I think Never Say Goodbye would be enjoyed by a wide audience. If you love stories with realistic characters, raw authenticity, and deep themes, I think you would enjoy Never Say Goodbye!

Any final thoughts?

Thank you so much for interviewing me, Holly! It was a pleasure.

Thank YOU! It was wonderful to hear about your writing journey and the behind-the-scenes of writing Never Say Goodbye!

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Giveaway

This post is part of an awesome blog tour headed up by Sarah's sister, Victoria Lynn. They are having a giveaway for Never Say Goodbye, so you can check that out here! You can also purchase a copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository, and Indie Bound.

Also, check out my review on Goodreads!

Until next time,

Adventure is out there!