What is a fun/unusual/unexpected fact about yourself that has nothing to do with writing?
I was a derivatives trader on Wall Street for twelve years. But that wasn’t exciting enough, so I quit to write novels.
Planner, Pantser, or Plantser (in the middle)?
Planner! I’d be terrified to start writing if I didn’t know where I was going. Although I do change my mind sometimes…
What is your writerly ‘crutch’ or ‘tic’?
I’m a verbal processor, so I need to talk to someone else to solve my plot problems. Luckily, I have some very patient writer friends who enjoy hiking in the woods while we spin out plots.
What are five things you need in order to write (like a laptop, music, notebook and pen, coffee, etc.)?
Silence. An ergonomic mouse. The program (Freedom) that helps you get off the internet. A Leuchtturm notebook and some Jetstream pens.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Wherever other people are not.
What is your favorite outlet for creativity outside of writing?
I love designing bookish stickers and swag! I also enjoy cooking, and food features heavily in so many of my books.
Where is your favorite place to set a story? Have you ever been there?
My thrillers are usually set in Portland, Maine, because I love that little city so much. I get there at least three times a year, and it’s always a joy.
Who is your favorite fictional hero?
Murderbot, from the Martha Wells series
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield
What fictional character (from someone else’s work) would you like to write into one of your books?
Orphan X would be handy to have around.
What’s the weirdest thing in your writing space?
I have a divided wooden box, where I keep my pens sorted according to colors vs. black and erasable vs. non-erasable. And nobody is allowed to borrow anything.
Did you have any other jobs before becoming a writer?
I’ve been variously a (terrible) waiter, an assistant home appraiser, a Wall Street derivatives trader and a food writer.
If you weren’t a writer, what job would you hold?
I would run for state government, because clearly they need some help over there.
Which book was the biggest struggle for you to write, and why? Which book was the easiest, and why?
Each and every book is hard in a brand new way, and I always find this baffling. Generally, when I begin a story, I either know a lot about the characters or a lot about the plot. So I’m always stressed out about one or the other.
Did you face any rejection when you began to write?
My first novel could not be placed with a publisher, and my agent fired me by email. I got a new agent, but my second novel got good trade reviews, but then tanked at the bookstore. I switched genres, adopted a pseudonym, and kept trying. Third time was a charm.
Writing group or book club?
Writing group!
How do you like to connect with readers?
https://sarinabowen.com and https://www.instagram.com/sarina.bowen
Brief Bio
Sarina is a 24-time USA Today bestseller and an Amazon #1 bestseller of contemporary fiction. Her books have been translated into over 15 languages. She has a degree in economics from Yale University, and lives in Hanover, N.H.
