IndieView with Sarah Kraft, author of Five Years Later

They say some authors’ heads are full of voices and people they’ve never met, and this is strangely accurate.

Sarah Kraft – 22 August 2021

The Back Flap

Elle Fox is a twenty-three-year-old dog mom living in a tiny house outside of Portland, Oregon. With a newly divorced mother next door who is starting over at fifty and a wealthy, narcissist father she hasn’t been able to look at since “the incident”, adulthood is more chaotic than anticipated.

When an old friend invites her to join a group “zencation” to the Oregon Coast, Elle finds herself in the charming town of Newport in a picturesque mansion with her closest peeps… and another man she can hardly stand to look at: her ex, Scott Darcy.

Five years ago, Scott had pulled Elle in like a rip tide. A rebel with a taste for adventure, he swept her away from small town life into the vast beauty of the outdoors. They had plans to see the world together… which is why she still can’t understand why he left her for someone else.

When she uncovers an old trinket box in Scott’s truck with a long-hidden secret inside, her perception of the past is challenged, forcing her to look hard at the men in her life and the choices they’ve made – and the choices she made in response.

Told in dual timelines, Five Years Later explores the trials of true love, the bonds of a family divided, and the challenges of forgiving those who unintentionally hurt us- including ourselves.

About the book

What is the book about?

I always have a hard time answering this question because, for all that Five Years Later is first and foremost a romance novel, it covers a lot of topics like perception, alcoholism, overcoming parental divorce, and learning how to find solace in nature as well as within ourselves. There is also a strong theme of forgiveness, both for others and ourselves.

When did you start writing the book?

This is ironic, but I literally started writing this book five years ago! It was me and my husband’s first year in our own place. I felt like I was finally settling into my new adult life and could take a breath after the rough year we had. After years of writer’s block, the story just started flowing.

How long did it take you to write it?

Hehe, five years 🙂

Where did you get the idea from?

They say some authors’ heads are full of voices and people they’ve never met, and this is strangely accurate. It was not Elle, but Scott Darcy who just sort of came to me, a combination of TV characters, book characters, and someone I met very briefly a long time ago. He pretty much followed me around until I had to write about him. Was he a bad boy? A jerk and cheater? Or maybe he was that rebel with a cause, that flawed but genuine lover with a lust for life… I had to find out.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Depends on what you mean by struggled! For me, the biggest struggle I had with this book was writing about the conflict between Elle and her father, Jim Fox, who pretty much abandons her after his and her mother’s divorce – probably because I myself felt very abandoned by my own dad after my parents’ split. I had a father who I knew loved me but honestly didn’t have the time, the emotional state, or the want to make room for me in his new life… That’s a very devastating reality for a daughter who really adored her parents, one that doesn’t take front and center in very many new adult novels. I wanted to bring the struggle of divided families to light for those like me who skimmed numerous bookshelves looking for a story that related to where I was at but could never find one that quite fit.

What came easily?

I’d have to say Scott and Elle’s relationship. I knew exactly how I wanted their story to play out, how Elle would have to battle through her own demons and emotions to accept hard truths about herself and about Scott. None of us are perfect. We all do stupid stuff or say stupid things. We all go through tragedies and moments we don’t handle properly. The question is, when do we forgive so that we can start over versus when do we forgive so that we can move on?

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

These characters are a work of fiction… but I cannot deny that a few of them have strong ties to real life people.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Ten years ago, I fell in love with my first novel ever: Twilight. I fell head over heels for the story, the characters, the setting. It was like something clicked after I read it (note: I had never been a big reader prior to this). “This is what I’m meant for,” I said to my mother, who seemed pretty sure an alien had replaced her child after I spent three days on the couch with my nose buried in the series. “I’m supposed to write novels like this! This is what I’m supposed to do!” And so I did. Thank you, Stephenie!

Do you have a target reader?

This book would probably best fit a contemporary romance, late teen, or new adult market, but anyone who has ever dealt with a parental divorce, the loss of a lover, or someone who just absolutely loves the great outdoors would probably find a lot to enjoy about this novel.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Writing used to be that thing I did every day, but as time went on and adult responsibilities took over, it has become sporadic. I write when I feel deeply moved to say something, when there is a story or a message or a character in my head that I want the world to see.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

It honestly depends on the type of book I’m writing (fantasy for example takes quite a bit of planning) and it usually involves a bunch of plot notes labeled out in order. I try to be organized and keep three columns: beginning, middle, and end but I hardly ever stick to that format. Sometimes, like with Five Years Later, I just write and see where it takes me. Sometimes things just come to me while I’m in the character’s shoes.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I try to wait until I’m done, but I am totally OCD about editing. If I can edit and write at the same time I’m happy, but that doesn’t always work!

Did you hire a professional editor? (May skip if being published by a small press rather than self-publishing)

For the first time, yes! I knew I wanted this book to be the best it could be. I hired an editor from New York who had worked for one of the Big Five, and she did a completely marvelous and helpful job. It was expensive, but worth it.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Not while I’m writing – I need near silence and minimal white noise to write – but when I go for a jog in the evening or in the morning my MP3 is always on. So many of the scenes in this book played out to music. Back in my pre-COVID gym days, I started crying on the treadmill while listening to Billie Eilish’s When The Party’s Over, because I finally saw the end chapters play out in my head… Pretty sure the gym staff started keeping boxes of tissue just for the emotional writer girl 🙂

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

(Sighs loudly) I’ve decided that in today’s world, sending your work to the slush pile is a giant waste of time and energy. It’s extremely hard to get noticed unless you are famous or sending EXACTLY what the agent is looking for! I have lost hours of my life trying to write beautiful but ultimately unsuccessful submissions to agencies. I would love nothing more than to find an agent who wants to work with me for the rest of my career, but ten years and four traditionally published books later, I’m done looking. I cannot wait for an agent to give me my dream—I’m going to go out there right now and get it.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher?

Please see previous question and answer. Haha!

Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

Being your own head of publishing is –excuse me—a $h%t ton of work! But after working with a small press on my previous books and dealing with their poor communication and limited guidance, nothing has thrilled me more than taking Five Years Later into my own hands. I haven’t slept much in the past two weeks (eye twitches as she smooths her frizzing hair down) but the book is set to be released in both Kindle and Paperback before the end of the summer and has been submitted to two major review companies as well as listed with other major book sites. ARCs are going out as we speak, and promotions are planned.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

The book cover was all me, some stock images, and Krita application. I used BookBrush.com to help format the paperback cover.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Can I say half and half? Hah! I’ve set aside a budget for important, paid marketing and will be using social media and other well known book platforms such as GoodReads, BookBub, BookSirens, and more to help spread the word.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Oofta, I’ll try to not write a book here: do a LOT of research. Make a list. Have reputable people read and help edit your work (no, you should not do it by yourself trust me). Explore Amazon Kindle’s tools for publishing. Create a budget for marketing and reviews ($1000-$2000 should give you a pretty decent start, though this does not include hiring a reputable editor). Contact eReleases and write a damn good press release. Be brave. Be smart. Plan in advance. As mentioned, it’s a lot of work, but satisfying to know you are the controller of your book and its success.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up outside of Portland, Oregon, in a rural country farmhouse with my family. We had woodlands and a big pasture for horses, chickens, rabbits, and more. My mother had an art studio where we made clay figures and faerie houses, wrote stories, and watched Disney movies… It was a paradise I will never forget.

Where do you live now?

I now live closer to Portland, in a tiny house much like Elle’s about twenty-five minutes outside of downtown. I miss the farmhouse like crazy and hope to have a little country estate of my own someday but I’m in a rather perfect hub of book inspiration right now between our neighborhood and the people and animals that live here, so I’ll take it!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I am also a fashion print designer! I design clothing and accessories for my collection, KoutureDeLeKraft! You can check out my work on Instagram @kouturedelekraft or website, KoutureDeLeKraft.com! I plan to add some Five Years Later inspo to the collection before the book launch!

What are you working on now?

Rest. I have been gunning hard for a year now between working my day job, trying to start KoutureDeLeKraft, and getting this book finished, edited, and launched. 2020 might’ve come in like a roller coaster but 2021 for me came in like a tsunami. I’ve gone through two major deaths in my family this year, a horrific ice storm, a terrible fire, and mental and physical health problems. For the first time in years, I’m tired! My goal for the rest of the year is to, for the first time in my life, take it easy… and start plotting for the sequel to Five Years Later.

End of Interview:

For more from Sarah Kraft, visit her website.

Get your copy of Five Years Later from Amazon US or Amazon UK.