Monday, October 04, 2010

Party with Sarah Zarr

Today's first party guest is TFC sister, Sara Zarr. Sara is the acclaimed author of three novels for young adults: Story of a Girl (National Book Award Finalist), Sweethearts (Cybil Award Finalist), and Once Was Lost (a Kirkus Best Book of 2009). Her short fiction and essays have also appeared in Image, Hunger Mountain, and several anthologies. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband.

Here's the official blurb for Once Was Lost:

Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor’s kid, it’s hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam’s personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.

And here's Sara's reading:

Ten is a number of honor, of faith and of self-confidence. Ten is a fortunate number that indicates that one’s plans are likely to be carried out – however, it is symbolized by the wheel of fortune, which can signal a rise and fall in success.

Well, that wheel of fortune part seems pretty vague and like it can apply to anyone's career, and I'd have to say my self-confidence wobbles when it comes to writing.

Twelve is a higher octave of the number three*. It is considered to be the ancient number of completion and is an indicator of great understanding and creative capacity. Twelve can also foreshadow one being sacrificed for the plans or intrigues of others.
(* The number three indicates someone who is artistic, social, friendly, creative, sensitive, ambitious and intuitive.)

Your name vibration is one, which indicates someone who is creative, independent, original, individual. Ones are good self-starters and natural leaders. Ones show interest in the arts, such as singing, acting, writing, painting, and love to curl up with a good book.


These two are a little more exciting! I especially like the part of being sacrificed for the intrigues of others. The writing life can be kind of boring, so that could be fun. I don't typically think of myself as someone who is great at completing things and following through, but the evidence (3 books out and one on the way) says otherwise, so I'll buy that. Sensitive? Me? How dare you! I'm crushed. Kidding. As for being a self-starter---yes, every writer has to be, especially when writing your first book because no one cares that you exist and are not sitting around waiting for your book. I've been told I'm a natural leader and it's true that if there's a leadership vacuum in any given situation, I'm likely to step in. That has also been described as "control freak." And of course, curling up with a good book is one of my favorite activities, so it looks like my numbers are right on.

You can read more about Sara at sarazarr.com.

Today's daily freebie is a signed copy of Grace by Elizabeth Scott.