Sarah Leyton

Average Rating:

Sarah is a former para-trouper with a love of deep sea diving off the coast of Fiji and a pet coyote named Spartacus. Just kidding! If it makes you feel better she welcomes you to believe that's her life.

The truth is that Sarah has spent half of her life in one-mile Kansas farm towns and the other half in bustling metropolises. This unique perspective opens up ideas for characters from all walks of life with stories that take on lives of their own.

She’s a woman who loves all books, snarky sitcoms and her tiny dog, D’Artagnan. With a perverted sense of humor and a mouth like a sailor, especially while behind the wheel of a car, she has an abiding obsession with all things Hello Kitty, photography and Michael Kors.

Also, Sarah has been a part of the BDSM community for nearly ten years and is excited to add her voice to those already out there. Sarah believes it's incredibly important for everyone to be able to truly find whatever it is that makes them happiest. She wishes all of you, readers and writers alike, the most fulfilled life possible!

Her first book, Sharing Annabelle released to Siren this year and she might have one or two more under construction *wink, wink*.

Visit her website at: www.SarahLeyton.com

Email her at: [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @LeytonSarah

Q: What do you think is the most important part of a story?

A: For me, I can’t have my characters fall in love just because they’re having amazing sex when they first meet. I love to see people fall in love in the day-to-day lives they lead. My favorite parts of writing erotica aren’t the blazing hot moments between the sheets (or against the walls, in the shower, etc.) even though it’s fun; my favorite part is writing those moments that capture the heart. Those parts of the story where the hero gazes at the heroine in the streaming sunlight and realizes that he wants to wake up with her every day for the rest of his life. Or when the main characters share a split second of pure, unadulterated pleasure at just being together. Those are the most important parts of the story for me.

Q: What made you decide to try and publish your first book rather than resign it to the bookshelf of your computer files?

A: If you’ve been on my website then you know the short answer to this question already. If not, here’s how it all began. I had written 80% of Sharing Annabelle and my friends found out that I hadn’t finished it and had no plans to finish it or send it in. One very late night, perhaps involving some adult beverages, I found them reading my book out loud and praising it. Knowing I have a problem turning down bets, they bet me that I wouldn’t be able to finish it. Once I proved them wrong and it was done I submitted it without really hoping that it would get published. Now that it is I could not be more excited about it!

Q: How do you plot a story?

A: I majored in English in college, which you can’t always tell by my grammar, but it did instill in me a certain writing process. I start with creating a book journal. I have a different colored Moleskine for each book. I always begin the journal with character outlines and descriptions of the settings. From there I create a general book outline for interactions I want to happen or particular scenes I want the characters to engage in. Once I’m satisfied with the small outline I start writing some of the scenes because then I can really get a feel for my characters and how I want them to interact. From there comes the big, detailed outline of every scene, every character and every interaction I want to include. After that I pick and choose which scenes I’m in the mood to write and fill in the book piece by piece until it’s complete.

Q: Where does your inspiration come from?

A: My inspiration comes from where I’d imagine all authors get their inspiration – life. I love to people watch. I spend hours watching people interact because I feel like half of our lives are made up of the little moments. There are so many things that seem to go unnoticed – a caress, a shared look, an inexpressible moment of closeness – those are the moments that really matter in relationships.

Q: What is your favorite book?

A: I always love this question. My favorite book is The Giver by Lois Lowry. I know it’s a YA book, but I’ve loved it since I was a kid. I actually collect various versions and languages of the book. I have about a dozen and they are displayed with pride on my bookshelf. If I’m picking a favorite romance then I’d say Rush by Maya Banks. I just love the relationship that she builds between the two main characters and that their love is built on more than just the blazing hot sex. I also love her writing style.

Q: What does your writing day look like?

A: My writing day starts by walking into my local coffee shop and the baristas getting me my usual order and then mocking me for coming in for the millionth time that week. Then I take my coffee with a super-human amount of espresso to my usual table by the window. Then begins the procrastination. I people watch, drink my coffee and review what I’ve written and my book journal. That’s when the espresso kicks in and the mad rush of typing begins. I write until the espresso wears off and call that a good job. I don’t ever force myself to write because then it becomes a job instead of something fun that I love to do.

Q: How do you deal with writer’s block?

A: Ah, writer’s block, that fickle jerk. I am constantly plagued by writers block. That’s why I have to go to the coffee shop. If I try writing at home I just sit and stare at my screen for hours and get nothing accomplished. Sometimes I’ll go for a drive. I do a lot of thinking and planning in the car. I know it sounds nuts but I kind of let the characters dialogue while I drive. For some reason, I can really hear their personalities that way. My mom always did say I was a vivid daydreamer.

Read more
Books Series
Recently Added 30 Day Bestsellers All-Time Bestsellers