Goodreads Choice Awards 2025

Ask the Author: Sarah Bates

“The life of this brave and forthright woman, almost lost to history, stays with me as I talk to readers. Writing her story became an obsession; that I do it right, and that I honor her.
” Sarah Bates

Answered Questions (13)

Sort By:
Loading big
An error occurred while sorting questions for author Sarah Bates.
Good Morning Sarah, im new to good reads as well as being new to publishing too, my first book a travelogue was released in May this year and i would to ask if you have the time to take advantage of the free download today and read the book and offer an honest review too? Thank you in advance Martin https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RPJC52T
Sarah Bates Sorry. I do not have the time as I am using my summer months to complete a short story collection.
flag
Dear Sarah, I read yr post in the thread with interest. Yr backgrnd in journalism &advertising shld be helpful 2you in marketing yr books. Would u be interested in 'trading' hosting? Look at my blog www.caitlinhicks.com an entry called HOST ME/ HOST YOU ... Wld love to visit San Diego area. We'd have to plan vis a vis travel expenses & $ earned @ our event(s)
Sarah Bates What a wonderful concept! I am interested so please call me to discuss the project in detail. I work as a writing tutor for a community college so my time commitment is tight. However, I am available weekdays on Tuesday and Friday, and on most weekends. My phone number is 760-723-0233 plus whatever country code you need in Canada.

Regards,

Sarah
flag
If you could travel to any fictional book world, where would you go and what would you do there?
Sarah Bates I'd love to live in North Bath, New York, the home of Richard Russo's wonderful books, Nobody's Food and Everybody's Fool. Those books turned me on to Russo's warm and funny writing style where he goes into the heads of his characters with such skill and delicacy I felt like I was part of the townspeople in every scene. That kind of writing draws me in like no other. It's a style I try to achieve in my own writing: intimate and arresting.
flag
What books are on your summer reading list this year?
Sarah Bates Re-reading Hemingway's " A Moveable Feast". Next up another Hemingway, "In Our Time", "The Ambulance Drivers", "Nobody's Fool". Best book read so far this year, "A Signature of All Things". Wow!
flag
What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?
Sarah Bates My mother ran off with a cowboy when my sister and I were toddlers. Although our father raised us to become educated and confident women, I always wondered why their marriage broke up. We were forbidden to contact her as children so this mystery continues to trouble me.
flag
Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?
Sarah Bates I read a lot, always fiction, but cannot think of a "favorite couple" because I am drawn to strong people, always loners. Hmmm. Good question though.
flag
I won a copy of your book "The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton" on 3/11/16. On 3/30/16 an envelope from you, which apparently had carried the book, arrived here EMPTY. I filed a lost mail incident claim with the US Postal Service, and they are looking into the matter, the book being lost somewhere between where you mailed it and when my Post Office received it. Is there some other way to reach you?
Sarah Bates Good grief! I will send you another copy immediately. I still have your address and will put the book in the mail today, but I would like a description of the envelope as you received it. I purchased the mailers from Staples in bulk and have used them to mail countless copies to readers, competitions and reviewers. Please call me at your convenience. My number is: 760-723-0233.
flag
Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
Sarah Bates Elizabeth whispered to me from a photograph on my wall. "Tell my story," she said. I tried to ignore her, but her tenacity wore me down.
flag
How do you get inspired to write?
Sarah Bates Characters come to me at the oddest times: in the shower, traveling, listening to music, eavesdropping, immersed in a lecture. I make notes, sometimes a rough outline, then revisit it sitting in front of my computer while the character tells the story.
flag
What are you currently working on?
Sarah Bates I'm writing a fictionalized version of Elizabeth Cady Stanton's early life. It is based on real events and seeks to establish the personality of the women's rights activist responsible for the 19th Amendment.
flag
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Sarah Bates Learn the craft and don't cut corners. Write every day, even if it's a letter to a friend. Regardless of genre or fiction or non-fiction, use professional editors. Be fearless, write about the topics in the corner of your mind.
flag
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Sarah Bates Living in another exciting world and never having to justify it. I write fiction now, but even when working as a journalist it was exhilarating.
flag
How do you deal with writer’s block?
Sarah Bates Honestly, I don't ever have "writer's block". Not to sound arrogant; just not a problem with me.
flag
Sarah Bates
14 followers
To ask Sarah Bates a question, please sign up.

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more