Happy Monday, Reader Friends!
Today we have the pleasure of having Sara L. Foust here. She’s stopped by to talk about her latest novel, Rarity Mountain. It’s the third book in her Love, Hope, and Faith series. Have you read books 1 and 2?
About the Book
On the surface, SIMON FINCUFF and FERN STRONGBOW have nothing in common. Simon has served his sentence, but his past conviction still haunts him. Fern is a veterinarian and grew up on an off-the-grid homestead. The one thing they share? Each has a dark secret they would do almost anything to protect.
When their current careers are yanked away, they are left scrambling to pick up the pieces. A reality television show falls into their paths, offering a life-changing opportunity that tests their resolve and their faith.
These two unlikely partners must battle to survive for thirty days in the untouched wilderness of Rarity Mountain with only a handful of survival items and a director who is out for drama, no matter the cost. With their lives and their carefully guarded skeletons on the line, they will discover how far they are willing to go to win the million-dollar prize for Survival Tennessee.
Interview
Toni: Welcome, Sara! I absolutely love the premise of the story. How did it come to you? Did the characters come first? Story idea? Please share!
Sara: In 2016, I was at my first conference, Southern Christian Writers Conference in Alabama. I had managed to
snag an appointment with agent Julie Gwinn for the following day, and a new friend I’d met said, “Don’t go into that pitch without at least three story ideas.” I admit at first I panicked, because I only had two ideas. I went to bed at my hotel that night praying as hard as I could for something new. Sometime in the early morning hours, the Lord woke me up and all of a sudden the idea and the characters came to me. I feverishly wrote down all the thoughts and went back to sleep. I pitched to Julie Gwinn the next day (I did all of the things they tell you not to do, by the way) and never even got to the part about my other ideas, but that’s how Rarity Mountain was first born.
Toni: That is so awesome! Your story takes place in Tennessee. What kind of research did you do to make the setting come alive?
Sara: I live here. Ha! No, seriously, though I love being outdoors and tying in the beauty of my home state with my stories. I had passed the Rarity Mountain exit on my way to another conference in the summer of 2017 (Kentucky Christian Writers) and thought, “Oh yeah, that will make a great title and setting for that survival novel.” I did look up information about the history of the Rarity Mountain area on a few websites, but I already knew its interesting story. If you would like to learn more about the setting, please visit my 02/28 blog over on https://saralfoust.com/2019/02/28/why-i-love-rarity-mountain/.
Toni: The benefits of placing a book where you live. 🙂 If Simon and Fern were cast in a TV show, what actors would you wish to play them?
Sara: Alex O’Laughlin and Jessica Biel. They would make a good match for what I had in mind while writing Simon and Fern.
Toni: I should probably watch Hawaii Five-O to see how he is in acting. Luckily I’ve seen Jessica Biel in movies. What song would portray the emotions of this story and why?
Sara: Reckless Love by Cory Asbury.
Toni: I absolutely adore that song! Would you choose past or present?
Sara: Present.
Toni: Same. forest or desert?
Sara: Forest!
Toni: I’d have to agree. Skittles or M&Ms?
Sara: M&Ms, but I do love strawberry Skittles and pick them out of the packs before I give my kids the rest.
Toni: Smart mama! Last but not least, how can the readers help you in your writing journey?
Sara: Tell your friends! Word of mouth is the most effective marketing asset an author has. And, if you would like to stay up-to-date on my new releases and giveaways, please join my email newsletter friends. It’s a great way to get to know me and get inside scoops :).
Toni: Readers, do you have any questions for Sara?
About the Author
Sara is a multi-published, award-winning author and homeschooling mother of five who writes surrounded by the beauty of East Tennessee. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is the author of the Love, Hope, and Faith Series, which includes Callum’s Compass (2017), Camp Hope (2018), and Rarity Mountain (March 2019). She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.
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Toni Shiloh 
Thanks for this fun interview and helping us get to know Sara and her writing. I am reading Camp Hope now and enjoying it.
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Awesome! Thanks for stopping by, Merry.
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Oh yay! Thanks, Merry!
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