Sarah Hamaker Interview

Q: Let me start with asking you to tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. Where to start? I was born…just kidding. We won’t go that far back. I’ve lived in Virginia my entire life, and married a fellow Virginian nearly 21 years ago. We have four children (a high school senior daughter, a high school junior daughter, two middle school sons), a preschool-age foster daughter, and three Siamese cats. I like to say I’ve been working from home as a freelance writer and editor before working from home became “popular.”

Q: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
A. As far back as I can remember. It’s always been something that called to me, that I knew I had to do. In fact, my best friend and I wrote a “book” when we were eight, filled with illustrated stories and poems, which I still have somewhere in the house. My mom typed up two copies using carbon paper. I’ve been blessed to make writing both my profession and my passion.

Q: Could you give us the highlights of your professional writing career including how you got your first writing break?
A. Professionally, I’ve built a solid freelance career, writing blogs, articles and daily news files for national trade publications and companies. As an author, I write romantic suspense novels and novellas, which I’ve had indie and traditionally published.

My first fiction writing break started when I won the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for romantic suspense in 2015. That story landed me an agent, which eventually led to my first romantic suspense (Dangerous Christmas Memories) being published by Harlequin under their Love Inspired Suspense line in November 2019.

Q: Would you tell us about your current book release Illusion of Love?
A: A suspicious online romance reconnects an agoraphobe and an old friend.

Nursing a hurt leg, psychiatrist Jared Quinby arrives in Culpeper, Virginia, on a case for the FBI. The investigation leads him to the doorstep of his childhood best friend, Mary Divers. Meeting Mary again is the one bright spot in his life.

Suffering from agoraphobia, Mary has at last found love with online beau David Kline and dares to dream of a future with him. Then David reveals he will be leaving the United States to become a missionary in Peru. Determined to stop living in fear, she accepts David’s marriage proposal, even though she’s never met him face-to-face.

As Jared’s case intersects with Mary’s online relationship, the more he uncovers, the more he fears for her safety. Jared tries to convince Mary not all is right with David, but she refuses to believe him. When tragedy strikes, Mary pushes Jared even farther away.

Will Jared convince Mary of the truth—and of his love for her—before it’s too late?

Q: Where did you get your inspiration for Illusion of Love?
A: It’s actually based on a true story that happened to a friend of mine, one that has become too familiar in these days of Internet dating and dating apps. I can’t go into details or I’ll give away some of the plot twists in Illusion of Love, but I found it fascinating how we can manipulate how we portray ourselves online, whether it’s only putting up photos of happy families on our Facebook page or hiding our true identities for nefarious purposes.

Q: What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?
A: I want readers to be careful when interacting online, whether it’s for romance or not. Double check stories with reputable sources before posting. Check out that friend request before accepting. Listen to your gut when it tells you something’s not right about a post or a person you met online. This is not living your life in fear—it’s using caution in an environment where it’s all too easy to misrepresent, misinterpret and mislead.

I also want them to feel like they’ve read a good romantic suspense, that they enjoyed the twists and turns, and love story. I hope they’re a little bit surprised and happy for the way things turned out for my characters—that’s how I feel when I finish a good book!

Q: What inspires you to write?
A. The stories in my head need an outlet, and I’m blessed that I am in a place where I can carve out time to write for me. I have to tell these stories, and I love figuring out the mystery part of suspense, and how I can weave in the falling-in-love angle.

Practically speaking, I often find inspiration for individual stories in news articles, something I see on social media, or conversations—whatever sparks that, “what if…” proposition that I want to answer through a story. Like many authors, I have way too many ideas, and it can be hard to pick what story should be tackled next.

Q: Would you share with us what you are working on now?
A. The story that won the ACFW Genesis contest didn’t find a traditional publishing home, but I still believe in the characters. I had planned for that to be part of a trilogy, so I’m polishing up book two and outlining book three. I hope to indie publish those later in 2021.

Q: When you’re not writing what do you like to do?
A. I love to read biographies, narrative nonfiction histories, romantic suspense, and British mysteries. I also enjoy knitting while vegging out with a cat and my current TV show obsession (again, love those British shows!).