YA Author Interview: Sara Zarr

Released October 2009

Sara Zarr is the author of several Young Adult novels, including Story of a Girl, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. Her latest novel, Once was Lost, comes out this month.

One of the things I like most about Zarr’s novels is the reality of her characters and their situations. She deals with raw emotional situations in a way that connects with her readers, many of who might be going through similar problems. In Story of a Girl, Deanna, with a semi-mistaken reputation as the school slut, must learn to deal with the way her past has shaped her future. And in Sweethearts, two long-distant friends are reunited and need to come to terms with the ways their lives have gone along down differing paths. Finally, her latest novel, which I have not yet had the pleasure of reading, though it’s definitely on my to-read list, deals with religion, doubt, and both family and local tragedy.

Every Girl Blog: What is the one book you read that changed your life?

Sara Zarr: I can never answer these questions about “the one” or “the best” or “the favorite”—there are too many great reads and experiences in life to pick just one. There was one book I read in fourth or fifth grade that was one of the first to open up the darker aspects of childhood in a way that was new to me. The book is THE TRUTH ABOUT MARY ROSE by Marilyn Sachs, about this girl who sort of idolizes her dead aunt until she uncovers a family secret. It was one of the first books that made me want to write that kind of story—a little darker and more dramatic than the usual.

EGB: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? Why do you write?

SZ: My primary goal when I’m writing my novels is to create a satisfying reading experience for people who like the kinds of stories I tell. So I want to bring the plot and the emotional arc together with solid prose and create a wholly believable world. I want the characters and their lives to feel as real as yours or mine. I write because there are certain questions I want to explore and feelings I want to understand and I don’t know any other way to do that than in a story.

Released 2007

EGB: How important do you think it is for young women to be able to express themselves through writing or other art forms?

SZ: It’s important for everyone to find some way of processing those questions and feelings I mention above, whether that’s through great friendships or travel or writing or painting or even keeping a private journal. It’s easy to just sort of skim over the surface of life. I mean, we can easily fill the day with TV, internet, work, school, eating, and sleep. Life is so much richer, though, if we put our minds to thinking a little more deeply about what’s going on around us, in whatever way works for us. Girls and women especially need to make sure to carve out time for that, because like they say, a woman’s work is never done, and we can spend our whole lives trying to meet the expectation have for women that they should be able to work, keep house, raise kids, be an awesome wife or partner, and look good doing it, all the time. We all need an outlet to make sure we don’t lose ourselves in the shuffle.

EGB: What is the writing process like for you?

SZ: Difficult and slow! Getting out a first draft is the hardest part. Once that’s done, at least there’s something to work with, though I don’t love rewriting, either.

EGB: Your female protagonists deal with some major problems in your novels. What sort of advice would you give to girls going through similar problems? What was the hardest thing you had to face in high school as a girl?

SZ: The hardest thing for me in high school as a girl was not feeling pretty or feminine enough. I was a bit of a tomboy, and often tried to hide the fact that I was smart because that didn’t seem to be a big asset, socially. Like anyone, I wanted to fit in. And like virtually everyone in high school, I didn’t feel like I did. I’m definitely no expert on any of the problems I write about. For just about any problem, one of the most important things is finding one or two people in your life you can truly trust and rely on. It can take time to find those people, and there might be some trial and error and getting burned in the process, but it’s worth the work.

You can find more information about Sara Zarr and her books on her official website.

Tagged as: authors, books, interviews, Sarah, YA