Welcoming award-winning author Sarah Sundin!

Hi all! So excited to welcome this amazing author to visit with us today!

Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep is a finalist for the 2016 Carol Award, won the INSPY Award, and was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years.” A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. She also enjoys speaking for church, community, and writers’ groups. Please visit her at http://www.sarahsundin.com.

First of all, Sarah, I want to say how much I love your latest book, Anchor in the Storm! Lillian and Arch immediately drew me into their struggles and aspirations, and as always your setting is so rich and alive. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series! 


We know you have been writing for a while now and have a wonderful backlist of WWII romances. But when did it all start for you? What made you decide to become a writer?

In 2000, I woke one morning with a dream that wouldn’t let me go. I had to write it. As a stay-at-home mom and a pharmacist, I had no plans to become a writer and no idea what to do! Over time I joined a writers group and started attending writers’ conferences. After years of writing, learning, rewriting, and rejection letters, my first novel, A Distant Melody, was published in 2010.

It is quite the journey to get to where you are! As I’ve already said, I love your latest book. Plenty of romantic tension and danger. Where did the inspiration for Anchor in the Storm come from? 

My husband is also a pharmacist. A few years ago, he made a transition from medical research to community pharmacy—at the height of the narcotic abuse epidemic that’s finally making headlines just now. He began cracking down on shady prescriptions, which were clearly being used to funnel narcotics to the black market. In my overactive novelist’s imagination, I wondered what those drug kings were thinking. Would they try to get their revenge on my husband? So I transferred the situation to the World War II home front and made the scenario more dramatic by making my fictional pharmacist a woman…with a disability.

I must say, Lillian's disability, how she dealt with it and her struggles really endeared her to me. She had a lot to overcome, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I do love the inspirational elements in your stories. How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing? 

Since I teach women’s Bible studies, I’m familiar with how we “mature” Christians still struggle with elements of our faith. My spiritual themes come out of each character’s experiences and personalities—the fears and shame and pride and misconceptions about God that hold them back. Often these are areas I’ve worked through myself or am currently working through. I want to portray the reality of walking with Christ—the detours, false steps, and delays—but also His steadying, patient presence that is always there for us, urging us forward.

So true and beautifully put. What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?

Although a story theme emerges in each novel and I dream of how that could affect readers’ hearts, I’ve learned God is far bigger than my themes. I’ve received countless emails and messages from readers who tell me how some element of a story challenged them or touched them or convicted them. It’s often something I never intended. But that’s how God works—He takes my feeble words, rearranges them, and inserts them in His children’s minds and hearts to teach what He wants to teach. I’ve learned my only job is to obey and keep churning out the feeble words for Him to play with.

I think being an instrument in His hands is the most rewarding part of writing inspirational fiction. 
Now for something really random. Let’s say you are running against a deadline, or something else is life is stressing you out. What is your favorite comfort food or beverage? 

I need to chew. If I’m being naughty, that means gumdrops or gummy bears, something with some give—plus a fruity flavor. If I’m being good, I grab the chewing gum. A few days before my daughter’s wedding last summer, my mother teased me about how hard I was chewing that gum.

LOL. 
Speaking of favorites, what is one of your favorite scenes from Anchor in the Storm? 

Speaking of chewing…(ha!) One of my favorite scenes takes place at Boston’s landmark restaurant, Durgin-Park, which was famous for its surly waitresses. Lillian Avery is new to town and is insulted by the surliness, but then her friend (and future love interest) Arch Vandenberg clues her in. I’d planned to have Lillian simply relax and enjoy the food and company, but Lillian surprised me. She gave the waitress some sass, and their banter made me laugh. Plus, it baffled poor Arch. So I kept it.

That was a really fun scene. :) 
Now, Anchor in the Storm is the second book in your Waves of Freedom series and I am looking forward to book 3 that releases early next year. Is there anything you can tell us about When Tides Turn?

When fun-loving glamour girl Quintessa Beaumont learns the Navy has established the WAVES program for women, she enlists, determined to throw off her frivolous ways and contribute to the war effort. No-nonsense and hoping to make admiral, Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills to fight German U-boats. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. For her part, Tess works hard to prove her worth in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit in Boston—both to her commanding officers and to the man with whom she is smitten. When Dan is assigned to a new escort carrier at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he’s torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help Tess root out a possible spy on shore. The Germans put up quite a fight, but he wages a deeper battle within his heart. Could Tess be the one for him?

So much to look forward to! Thank you so much for joining us today, Sarah. For me it has been a huge treat. We look forward to all your future projects! 

For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg’s attentions only annoy—even if he is her brother's best friend. During the darkest days of the war, Arch’s destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves—and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

If you have read any of Sarah's books, which was your favorite so far? Do you have any personal connections to WWII?


Don't forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for  Dawn of Liberty by Amber Schamel! Winner announced in the Weekly Windup on July 18th. Check out all of our great prizes on the Prizes Galore page.

What Are You Reading?

Know what I hardly ever get to talk about any more?

The books I'm reading.

Seems odd, doesn't it?  A writer who doesn't get to talk about books enough?

Yeah, something's wrong with that one.

This summer, I thought I'd get to do a whole lot of reading.  After all, God called me away from my teaching job, so the summer was free of yearly planning and summer meetings… except it wasn't.  I still had a couple of meetings.  And I wound up watching my precious nephews.  And we got a new niece. And my daughter's best friend spent a week with us.  And… Bible School.  Wait.  Free time?  Where did you go?

But I did get to dive into some books and thought I'd share some short impressions with you.  Ready?  And start thinking… because I want to hear what you're reading.  I need to refresh the "to be read" pile!

Love Inspired Suspense's "Witness Protection" Series:
I fell into this one by accident.  I tend to read a lot of LIS novels when I'm writing, because it keeps my head in the game. I'm weird. If I'm reading women's fiction and writing suspense, it scrambles my brain.  Anyway, I read the fourth book first, then I had to go back and read the rest to find out what was happening with the illegal baby smuggling/selling/adoption ring. I loved the way the characters flowed among the stories, so we got to see them more than once.  And the suspense… yep.  Caught myself tensing up quite a bit in some of the stories.

 Julie L. Cannon's Scarlett Says:
Julie and I were agent mates, though I did not know her well. It still tilted the world a little when she passed away suddenly before this book was published. Abingdon sent me a copy to read, and it was actually the first book I read this summer.  It took me some time to get into it, largely because I had the wrong mindset going in.  I was expecting it to be something different than it was.  Once I readjusted, I realized Julie had a real talent for making quirky characters come to life.  Joan is different… and real. And you've got to love her in spite of the fact she's not like you and me. Siggy practically stole the novel… I loved him.  And the fun tidbits about Gone with the Wind and Margaret Mitchell re-piqued my interest.

Sarah Sundin's In Perfect Time:

I just finished this one two days ago.  I read it in four days. (I guess I did find some reading time after all…) Of course, I was very low on sleep by the time I turned the last page… Sarah Sundin will do that to you. I have yet to read one of hers that I can't put down.  If you're a fan of WWII novels, go buy her books now.  In Perfect Time is the conclusion of her "Wings of the Nightingale" series about flight nurses during WWII.  This one follows "bad girl" Kay Jobson, who really isn't such a bad girl after all. It's about what happens when your dreams change… and when God gets a-hold of you and turns your whole life around.  It's about who you really are versus who you think you are.  And, of course, it's about Kay and Roger… two people with pasts that haunt their presents.  My favorite book of the summer.  (I say that about all of her books… and it's true about all of her books.)

Now… what were your summer reads?  Any memorable books on your list?

Stitches Thru Time is celebrating its birthday! Leave a comment on any post this month to win a prize pack. Every comment is an entry, so visit often!

Jodie Bailey may or may not need more time to read. She's the author of two Love Inspired Suspense novels and has a novel with Abingdon Press, Quilted by Christmas, releasing in October.  In the same month, she has a novella in the Love Inspired Suspense collection Holiday Defenders.  She's looking forward to the fall and sweatshirt time… and many more good books to read.