Sarah Sundin's "A Distant Melody"

We're happy to have Sarah Sundin with us today talking about her new book, "Distant Melody."

To learn more about Sarah, read on.

Your title: A Distant Melody
1) How did this story come to you?
It came out of a “what if” question—what if a man and woman met at an event, truly clicked, and parted before exchanging contact info? Wouldn’t it be romantic if he went through great effort to track her down? It wouldn’t work in a contemporary setting—he’d “Google” her—but it made a sweet premise for a historical. My husband and I watched a History Channel special on the US Eighth Air Force based in England which flew over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, and I had my link. My great-uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth, so I had access to family stories plus his personal letters.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I first submitted A Distant Melody at Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference in 2003—and began accumulating a stack of “good” rejection letters. They liked my writing, my story, and my characters—however, historicals weren’t selling. This continued through 2007. I often felt discouraged, but the Lord made it obvious in many ways that He wanted me to finish the trilogy so I kept plugging away. Then at Mount Hermon in March 2008, I heard, “We need historicals!” And there I was with my trilogy close to complete. I submitted to Vicki Crumpton at Revell, and in September I was offered a three-book contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. During summer breaks in college, I worked as a ride operator at Knott’s Berry Farm. I knew how to jump on and off of a moving merry-go-round. Don’t ask to see it now.
2. I write my rough drafts longhand, curled up on the couch. That’s when the stories flow. The computer feels sterile to me. It’s where I edit, not where I create.
3. For my birthday present I made my husband buy me a model kit of a B-17 Flying Fortress (the plane my heroes fly in my series). He and I put it together—175 itty-bitty pieces to paint and assemble—and I was a prissy girly girl who never did models. It’s so cool! One half of the fuselage is clear so you can the itty-bitty crewmembers and bombs and all. Really nerdy, huh? I bring it to my book signings—if it fits on the table—because it’s a great conversation piece.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m doing publicity for A Distant Melody, doing edits with Revell on Book 2, A Memory Between Us, polishing Book 3 before I turn it in, and doing preliminary work on another series, also set during World War II.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for visiting with me today! If the Lord has called you to something, have the courage to step out and do it. Don’t let setbacks discourage you. I’m always encouraged to remember that God’s view of success is different than the world’s. He values obedience over results. As Mother Teresa said, “God doesn’t require us to succeed; He only requires that you try.”

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/
Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahsundin
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin