In this month’s author spotlight, I am pleased to introduce Sarah Marie Cales, author of the newly released Amethyst Night. As part of my ongoing effort to highlight emerging and independent voices in literature, I am excited to share a closer look at Sarah’s work, creative journey, and newest publication.
The Writer
Paige:Where are you from?
Sarah: I was born in Florida and spent all of my summers here. My mother raised me in New York, and that’s also where I attended school. I just recently migrated back to Florida!
Paige: How long have you been writing?
Sarah: I’ve been writing creatively my whole life. I was always better in English class than math. My poem was selected in 2005 to be put into the Young Americans Anthology of Poetry, and since that debut I’ve been writing for pleasure.
Paige: What does writing mean to you personally?
Sarah: Writing is a way for me to work out my emotions and navigate the events that have unfolded in my life. A piece of myself and those close to me have been plucked into the worlds and characters I create. I hope that someone out there can relate to the depth of the emotions I pour into these worlds. I also use writing as an escape from the sometimes hard life we all live!
Paige: Were there any authors or books that shaped you early on?
Sarah: I was of course a “Harry Potter” fan growing up. But my taste changed as I began expanding my reading library to authors such as Lauren Kate (“The Fallen” series), Sarah J. Maas (“Throne of Glass” series), and Stephanie Meyer (“Twilight” saga). I also really enjoyed the show “Charmed” written by Constance M. Burge and devoured all the books written by multiple authors that expanded that world.
Paige: What does a perfect writing day look like for you?
Sarah: My perfect writing day would be a rainy day snuggled up in bed with my cats hanging out with me while a movie is playing in the background.
The Work
Paige: Tell us about your latest/upcoming release.
Sarah: “Amethyst Night” was just released! Eighteen-year-old Niya owes a life debt, but being bound to Kaz, the most powerful Demon across The Divisions, comes with perks. She is not only known as his most lethal weapon, but is also the object of his desire, his future wife, and is gifted with the magical ability of empathic control over others. Kaz’s own magical ability to wield and manipulate fear, among a number of other terrifying gifts, allows his Legions to ravage devastation throughout The Divisions, assuring his father remains in the seat of power. Together, bound in marriage, the pair would be unstoppable.
Niya returns from her failed assassination attempt on Drake Vex, a notoriously known Angel bounty hunter, and begins to feel Kaz’s emotions unraveling. As she begins to question her soon to be husband, something mysterious deep inside her soul alerts her to deception, urging her to follow her own instincts in search for the truth behind the lies Kaz tries to spew. Also sensing that Drake knows more than he let on during their first encounter, Niya is forced to team up with him in search of vital information inside an ancient book, and even more importantly, the truth to who she is.
The more Niya starts to unweave the secrets that Kaz has been keeping from her, the more she begins to feel a pull toward Drake; a spark somewhere deep inside that didn’t exist before. The darkness inside her mind clashes against the new light flickering within her soul, and she must ask herself: Who do I believe, and what is real? But, when she finally realizes the truth, she’s left with an even bigger question: Do I follow Kaz into the darkness or let Drake lead me into the light?
Paige: What inspired this particular story?
Sarah: I love all of standard romantasy tropes and wanted to put my own spin on it. I struggle with overwhelming empathic tendencies towards certain people, and wanted that to reflect in my book. I also wanted my book to reflect the struggles that come with a multitude of mental disorders, and how finding the light inside is important to discovering a way out of the darkness.
Paige: What do you hope readers take away from this book?
Sarah: I hope my readers find a sense of self-worth and believe that no matter how dark the night may be, there is always a light to lead you out. There is always someone out there who feels the same, we are stronger together.
Paige: What sentence from your writing are you most proud of?
Sarah: A powerful one: “The emptiness inside me overpowered my own self reason, my own voice, dampening out any hope that I would be able to hear my salvation.”
A sexy one: “When you search the dark, I am the nightmare you desire.”
Paige: What part of the writing/publishing process has been most rewarding?
Sarah: The best feeling in the world is when someone (not related to you) reads your book and wants to talk to you about it. You don’t write to make money, you write to make connections.
Final Words
Paige: What genres or themes draw you in most?
Sarah: Generally fantasy, romantasy, dark fantasy, horror, magical realism, or anything that has a good plot with magical elements.
Paige: Is there a dream project you hope to write someday?
Sarah: I don’t necessarily have dream projects. I’m constantly working on new projects. I just hope that I can finish them all in a timely manner!
Paige: What literary world would you love to visit?
Sarah: I would love to visit the Night Court in Prythian and Middle Earth. I think they would have the best views to write!
Paige: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Sarah: Full send. Don’t give up. Even if just one person reads your work and loves it, it’s worth the effort. You’ll feel accomplished and more proud of yourself than you expect.
Paige: What can readers look forward to from you next?
Sarah: I’m currently writing my second book, “Blue Moon Fate.” It’s a completely new adventure with more characters I hope readers will love. It’s on track to be released this fall, and soon after that release, the sequel to “Amethyst Night” will be locked and loaded for readers to enjoy!
Paige: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your experience as a writer?
Sarah: I’m very excited to share my work. I don’t expect everyone to love my writing, but if just one person can relate to or enjoy something in my story, then I’ve done my job!
Sarah has also shared that, aside from her writing, she is also a busy mom and a lover of all things Disney.
Her book Amethyst Night is available for sale on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.
View her website and follow her creative journey and future releases on TikTok and Instagram.
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