Monday, March 22, 2010

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

27 comments:

  1. Great interview. Would love to read this book.
    csdsksds[at]gmail[dot]com

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  2. Your quote of Mother Teresa is so right and I am so glad that you had the courage to follow the Lord and stay with your trilogy until they were published. A Distant Melody sounds fascinating and I can't wait to read it. It would be wonderful if I could win a copy. Thank you once again K. Dawn for bring us an interview with a wonderful author.

    Beverly

    bgrider2@cox.net

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  3. Hi everyone - thank you for stopping by!
    K Dawn - thank you so much for posting this.

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  4. Awesome intereview and I would be honored to read this book,it sounds amazing
    In Christs Love
    Michelle
    michellekidwell1977@gmail.com

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  5. this book sounds good. I'd love to win it. Thanks
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot]com

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  6. THANKS for the interview. I would love to have my name put in for the drawing. This looks good.

    Nora
    Finding Hope Through Fiction
    www.psalm516.blogspot.com
    norafindinghope@gmail.com

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  7. I love book in this time period.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  8. What a great idea to build a model of the B-17! My husband is a pilot and I'm always asking him strange questions - fortunately he loves to talk!

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  9. What a great way to get a feel for your plot! I appreciate your iniative of building a model.
    Thanks for the opportunity to perhaps receive a copy of A Distant Melody.

    A J Hawke
    ajhawke.blogspot.com
    ajhawkeauthor[at]aol[dot]com

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  10. I enjoy reading about the WWII time period. Please enter me.

    julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. I would love to read this book!

    edwina.cowgill[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  12. Ooh, sounds great! I'd love to read it!

    writer_weaver at yahoo dot com

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  13. i would love to read this book...thanks for the opportunity :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  14. I'm glad historicals are selling again, because this is one of my favorite genres. A Distant Melody is receiving great reviews and has become a must-read for me. Thank you for an interesting interview (I'd like to see that merry-go-round jump) and the chance to win a copy.

    I already subscribe to your blog, Dawn.

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

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  15. I love that you bring the model plane to book signings! I'd love a chance to win A Distant Melody.

    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  16. I would love to read this book....please enter me! Thanks!!!
    jackie.smith(at)dishmail(dot)net

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  17. Wonderful time period to write about. Can't wait to read it!

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  18. great interview, great book, I would love to win Thanks a great day {in}2003 (@) yahoo(.) com

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  19. This is seriously a most interesting era in which to set your books. Really looking forward to reading the first book in this series & each in the series, thereafter.

    I try to post reviews for the inspirational books I read, as I believe encouraging others to pick up ANY inspirational books is great first step for many pre-Christians. Include me in your drawing for a copy of "A Distant Melody".

    SweetThot@tds.net

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  20. I love historial romance. Keep them coming.
    scrapkath@hotmail.com

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  21. Good interview, thanks to both of you for sharing it. I love historical fiction; this sounds like a winner!
    Blessings,
    Karen
    klange61(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  22. I'm so glad to hear the interest in the World War II era. The scope of the war is so great, I don't think we could ever exhaust the dramatic stories!

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  23. My Dad was in world war 11,so I am really excited about this book. I would love to win. agreatdayin2003@yahoo.com thanks

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  24. please enter me to win
    tiffanyniekro at hotmail dot com

    Also, please checkout (and hopefully follow) my own book review blog at tiffanysbookshelf.blogspot.com

    It is just getting started, but already amazing things are happening, so please stop on by!

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  25. Would love to read this book. Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you!

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  26. Just found out that I won the book. Thank you, thank you! Can't wait to read it.
    Blessings:n
    Karen

    ReplyDelete

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