Once upon a time (as all great stories start), there was a little girl with big dreams. But these dreams were limited by her understanding of the world and the things in it. And so, she went about her way, searching for adventure…and found it. In a book.

When I was young…as young as I can remember, I loved books. Big, small, board, thick…all the books, all the time. My mother was an avid reader of Christian Romance. This led to my own enjoyment in finding quests, mysteries, and love in the pages between colorful covers.

I have always been a series reader. And some of my earliest were the Mandie Series by Lois Gladys Leppard, When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke, and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. Some years later, I became obsessed with cozy mysteries of the Nancy Drew and Mary Higgins Clark variety. As I got older, my imagination took me among the stars with a fondness for Science Fiction and Fantasy. One of my all-time favorites is the Firebird Series by Kathy Tyers—I mean, Christian Science Fiction? Does it get better? Teenaged me didn’t think so.

Series give the reader an opportunity to follow a character’s journey beyond the “happily ever after.” My young heart wanted to know that Elizabeth and Wynn (When Calls the Heart) would have a loving marriage even after the crescendo of the vows. And (SPOILER ALERT) I was not disappointed—not a perfect marriage, mind you, but loving all the same. Things like this have taught me life lessons about myself and my own marriage. That’s great fiction. Thank you, Janette Oke!

@sarat1701 tells us all about her reading life. #amreading #books Share on X

But as I began to create my own stories, it was those earliest books that influenced me the most—the untamed American West, Medieval courtly love, and even ancient Greece. These became the settings for new adventures with my imagination at the helm.

I have hit a “readers block” a few times in the last several years, a time when I struggled to find a reading groove…even though I’m surrounded by a TBR (to be read) pile full of excellent choices. And it has become a gauge for me to slow down and take a moment with my current read. If I can let myself remember what it was like to be totally lost in a fictional world—a promise that books still hold today—I can find that ability to savor the experience a little better.

There’s nothing quite like it, is there? I am currently reading Tamara Leigh’s AGE OF HONOR Series. And falling in love again with her unique blend of pulling us into the character’s skin and throwing the reader back in time. Magnificent.

What about you? When was the last time you were absolutely lost in a book?

Sara is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, Historical Romance author whose superpower is converting caffeine into novels. She loves those odd little tidbits of history that are stranger than fiction. That’s what inspires her. Well, that and a good love story.

But of all the love stories she knows, hers is her favorite. She lives happily with her own Prince Charming and their gaggle of minions. Three to be exact. They sure know how to distract a writer! But, alas, the stories must be written, even if it must happen in the wee hours of the morning.

Sara is an avid reader and enjoys reading and writing clean Historical Romance when she’s not traveling. Her books range from the Czech lands to the American wild west and from ancient Egypt to the early 1900s. Some of her titles include The Lady Bornekova, Hope in Cripple Creek, The General’s Wife, Trail of Fears, and the Convenient Risk Series.

Check out Sara’s author page to find out more…