Interview with Sarah Lovett
by Jon Jordan
Sarah's Web Site

Interview with Sarah Lovett

JON:  How would you describe Dr. Sylvia Strange? And how has she changed over the course of the five books?

SARAH:  Over the course of the five books in the series, I've described Sylvia as "my alter-ego", "the part of me that grapples with the darker side of human nature", and "Nancy Drew on steroids". There is always a relationship between a writer and the character she commits to the page. Sylvia began as an edgy, compulsive, adrenaline-driven woman working in the trenches of a male world. The demands of the thriller genre mean that any protagonist is pushed to the end of her limits with each book. Sylvia hasn't had a lot of time to relax. All in all, I think she's conducted herself with admirable stamina and determination. Still, her wedding in Dark Alchemy marks a bit of a softening. She's getting a chance to widen her horizons. The next thing on her agenda is finding her father-and uncovering the mystery of his disappearance.

JON:  Why did you decide to write a series? Was this the plan from the start?

SARAH:  I've always been a series fan. When I started the first book I was aware of the potential for a series, but really, the push came from my agent and the publisher. When I sold the first book, it was part of a three-book deal. They wanted outlines of two more Dr. Strange novels. Hey, I wasn't about to say no.

JON:  When you write, do you plan the whole book out ahead of time, or do you start with a general idea and see where it leads?

SARAH:  My plotting process has changed over the years. I've consciously searched for ways to understand narrative and story structure. Over the course of five, six, seven novels, I've found ways to internalize structure that make sense to me. I don't believe there's any one right way to create story, but I know there are universal elements and there are tools that seem to be universally helpful. I will say that working on deadline creates demands. I do need a strong outline when I begin although that outline will shift as I move along in the writing.

JON:  Why was there a delay between last couple of books?

SARAH:  Part of the delay has been the change of publishers from Villard-Random House to Simon and Schuster. When my publisher moved houses, he took me with him. Dantes' Inferno took longer than the first three books because it demanded mega research, and also because I was going through a major transition in my personal life. Dark Alchemy happened to get pushed back because of 9-11. Publishers (and film producers) pulled back on titles that were topically connected to terrorism. That was a time when people said they were glad they weren't writing thrillers. All that turned around in a matter of months, but by then the book had been delayed.

JON:  What are some of your favorite books?

SARAH:  I love so many books on almost any topic. As far as fiction goes, I'm always drawn to read and reread classic adventure stories like Kidnapped and Oliver Twist and The Count of Monte Cristo.

JON:  While you write, do you try to out do yourself with each book?

SARAH:  Absolutely. I wish I didn't feel the desire to try something new with each book but I do. The good news is I try to become a better storyteller with each book. The bad news--sometimes it's a lot of work.

JON:  Is it difficult to get in the mindset of some of the villains you write? The character of John Dantes in particular really stuck with me.

SARAH:  Lucas Watson was a bit disturbing as well. I've always found it interesting to move into the psyche of my villains. There are good traits in every villain--and there are bad traits in every good guy.

JON:  You've worked as a researcher in the New Mexico State Penitentiary. What did this entail? And how has it influenced your writing?

SARAH:  I was hired by the state to work as a researcher on a specific civil litigation case that stemmed from a notorious prison escape. For a curious writer, the chance to explore every nook and cranny of the prison was fascinating. It was also disturbing. The oldest facility at the state penitentiary had been the scene of the infamous and bloody 1980 prison riot. There were ghosts in that old pen.

JON:  Your villains all seem to have different methods, from bombing to poisoning. You obviously research well for the books, what kind of interesting tidbits have you found out in your research?

SARAH:  Hmmm...you can be poisoned with just about anything, including water. Grain explodes (as the gases build up). A few decades ago, if you committed a fairly serious crime while in the military, you could wipe your slate clean by reenlisting. Well...there are many more tidbits but as a responsible person, I try to forget them.

JON:  What kind of movies do you enjoy watching?

SARAH:  All movies. Fortunately my husband Michael has eclectic tastes, too. The difference between us is that I can walk away from a movie after it starts (if it's really bad) but he feels compelled to watch to the end.

JON:  And on the subject of movies, have you had any Hollywood interest in your work?

SARAH:  Yes. It's been optioned. And optioned. (Dangerous Attachments came very close to production). But, alas, no movies in the works yet.

JON:  What was your first signing like? And how has doing events changed over the years?

SARAH:  My first signing was terrifying and thrilling. All my friends were there and I'll never forget their support. At this last signing--in Santa Fe--they were all there again. I love them! It's always a pleasure to meet booksellers and readers on the road. This last round I met several people who continue to stay in touch. Just last week I had lunch in Santa Fe with someone I met in San Francisco.

JON:  Do you have any plans to do a book out of the series?

SARAH:  You bet. An historical thriller is in the works. I'm also mid-manuscript on a non-thriller. I truly enjoy moving between books.

JON:  Are there any subjects you would avoid writing about?

SARAH:  These days I'm less inclined to write about graphic violence. The real test for me is do I know enough (or can I learn enough) about this or that subject or issue to be able to treat it honestly on the page?

JON:  If you had a year off, no commitments and unlimited funding, what would you do with the year?

SARAH:  Exactly what I'm doing--writing, traveling, spending time with family and friends--only I'd make sure Michael didn't have to work, either, so we could travel more. Also, I'd try to set up a scholarship for worthy and hard-working friends.

JON:  When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

SARAH:  A dancer and a writer. (And a secret agent.)

JON:  The Internet, a wonderful tool, or the work of the devil?

SARAH:  I find the net useful, but I'm careful when I use it for research. There's a lot of information out there, not all of it reliable, some of it totally absurd--and some of it just plain mean. Still, I believe in personal freedom so I believe in the net.

JON:  What question do you get asked more than any other?

SARAH:  "Where do you get your ideas?" I wish I had a more creative answer than "Everywhere." I have trouble stopping ideas. They just keep coming. I let them percolate to see if they are truly "my" ideas, if that makes sense. Also, there's a little-known web site--idiz4u--and they mail out in plain, brown wrapping...just kidding.

JON:  What is it you enjoy about teaching?

SARAH:  Learning. It's an interactive, sharing process. I learn when I'm preparing, when I'm in class, when I'm listening to my fellow writers/students, when I'm reading about teaching, and when I'm trying to formulate what I've learned as a writer.

I find it really exciting to work with a group for a day-long story structure workshop. It's wonderful when we get to the end and we've built a story together and we've had fun along the way. I'm looking forward to teaching over a longer period of time--five or six week sessions--so we can read and write as we go.

JON:  What's the one thing always in your refrigerator?

SARAH:  Pickles! Dill and Sweet.