Sara Puissegur’s debut fantasy novel, the first installment in a gripping trilogy, releases August 19. Sara, a longtime college friend of mine, reached out to me last August as she finished drafting her manuscript. Shortly after I reviewed it and offered some high level feedback, Verse & Vine was born. It’s been an honor to work alongside her and help her learn the ropes of the self-publishing realm as Verse & Vine has taken root. As both friend and editor, I am proud to see how far Serena Finch (the protagonist) and company have come, and I’m thrilled to share a little of our conversation about the writing and publishing process with you.
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I know this book is very meaningful to you. Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for writing this book?
Like many avid readers in middle school, I was obsessed with Harry Potter and Eragon. I didn’t think twice when ideas for my own fantasy world bloomed. The conflict and characters came to me easily and have only improved with time. I love that I was able to take inspiration from great fantasy works like The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia when building my own version of elves, dwarfs, and a battle of good versus evil.
Those are some classics, for sure. How did you come up with the title for your book? Does it hold a significant meaning?
The title changed two or three times before I finally came up with A Sparrow Among Stars and it stuck. I was brainstorming words and phrases that were significant to the story—the stars being one of the most important recurring images. Serena is referred to as the sparrow in the story, so when I fit those two pieces together, it worked beautifully. Now I couldn’t imagine the title being anything else.
Yes! I still remember soaking in a bubble bath late one night when we were rapid fire texting ideas and variations of the phrases. I remember the moment I saw A Sparrow Among Stars, I knew it was right. No other title could compare. I’m glad you let go of Hidden Heir!
What was your writing process like? Did you have a specific routine or schedule? I know we connected later in the process, but we’ve had many discussions about managing work, toddlers, and writing. How’d you pull off writing a 450 page novel?
I wrote a lot of the first draft during the COVID shutdown in 2020. I put the project aside for over a year before deciding it was time to commit to completing it during Spring 2023. There were many working lunch breaks and late nights over the past year and a half, but it was all worth it in the end.
Your hard work was worth it. This has been a huge accomplishment for you.
Did you face any other challenges while writing this book other than managing time? If so, how did you overcome them?
I put so much hard work into the first draft that I, unfortunately, burned myself out. The combination of burnout, grief over a family death, and finding out I was pregnant with my first child hit me hard, and I ended up giving up completely for a while. I hate that I left the project on the back burner for so long, but I’m proud of myself for coming out of my postpartum brain fog and dedicating the time to finishing it. This series has saved me in a lot of ways, and I hope the themes of processing grief and accepting support from others really resonate with my readers.
Wow. That had to be rough, but I’m so proud that you finished strong. I know what you mean about a book saving you in many ways. I imagine many writers can relate to the comfort and healing found through sharing their stories.
How did you decide on the genre and target audience for your book?
I didn’t choose the fantasy genre; it definitely chose me. This story may have started out more Young Adult, but as I worked on it as an adult author over the past few years, I realized many of the violent fantasy scenarios made me see this as more of an upper YA or new adult novel. There’s no explicit sexual scenes, but I do still advise caution as not all 14-year-olds are mature enough to read about fantasy violence, gore, grief, and torture. I think 16-45 is a solid audience age range, and I have characters that span throughout that age range.
Right. I can think of a few characters and fan favorites, both from the lower and higher end of that age range. I can’t wait for your readers to meet the crew!
What inspired you to work with a hybrid publisher and ultimately self-publish instead of submitting your manuscript to traditional publishing houses?
I don’t take rejection or criticism very well, so I knew trying for traditional publishing wasn’t the best idea. Once I learned more about the accessibility of self-publishing, I decided to take a chance on myself. It may be a little pricey and a lot of work, but it was all worth it. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat because my story deserves to be read, and I’d be disappointed if I put all that work in and it sat on a shelf unread for years.
You know, that’s a very important point not every writer considers. There’s so much more that goes into publishing a book than just writing it, and if you have the right skillset or resources, it doesn’t have to be rocket science. I think most writers are prepared to work with an editor, even if they haven’t considered marketing strategies or interior design layouts.
How did you find the experience of working with an editor? Did it significantly impact your manuscript?
Working with an editor was the best decision. I had great ideas, characters, big plot moments, but this manuscript would not have ended up so polished and pristine if it weren’t for you, Sam, and Jack, who joined your team in the middle of revisions. You two were the best investment I made, and I am so glad I was able to work with you over the past year! I really can’t wait to work on the next two books with you as well.
Thanks! A Sparrow Among Stars has been an exciting project for us both. Jack and I have sent lines from the manuscript back and forth discussing the ways your words moved us. We also sent some late night memes on the last leg of editing. I’ll have to get those to you. We had fun, and we can’t wait to see what wild ride Books 2 and 3 will take us on!
Can you share any insights or lessons you learned during the editing process?
My editors taught me about all the common new author mistakes like unclear POV shifts and my most repeated phrases or sentence structures. Having someone point out those first time author problems has made me into a better writer and self-editor. I feel much more confident in my writing now.
You picked up on those lessons well! I remember being a creep and watching you self-edit from time to time on our shared Google Doc with a big grin on my face.
How involved were you in the layout and design decisions for the book? Did you have specific ideas in mind?
As a self-publishing author, I had a hand in everything. I came up with the concept for a cover design and hired an artist whose style I liked. I designed the chapter title headers and scene break images, and I laid out the entire book myself. I was really happy to be able to utilize the same stars throughout the interior layout.
I had a different cover made originally, but I ended up deciding to scrap it due to the artist’s use of AI. The Bookstagram community was really wonderful and supportive of that decision, and everyone has really embraced the new cover. I found a human artist who took my new concept idea and made the cover of my dreams! I love how the art wraps around the back cover. There are so many little details and “Easter eggs” that the readers will be able to appreciate.
I know one reason I’m an advocate for self-publishing (or working with a hybrid publisher) is because I believe authors should maintain creative control over their books. I’m happy you were able to put your personal touch to everything.
What was the most challenging aspect of preparing your book for publication?
Doing everything myself (except the editing). Building a brand takes loads of time and effort, and you have to be consistent. I didn’t expect to spend more time on revisions and marketing than actually writing, but the beauty of the process is that it’s never ending. Once this book is finished, I can continue to spread the word about it forever, and I get to start working on the next project, too.
How did you gather beta readers and advanced readers for feedback on your book?
For beta readers, I asked four indie authors who I had come to know. I had read the debut novels by three of them earlier this year and felt they would be great sets of eyes to have on my work. The fourth has her own fantasy debut coming out in December.
For ARC readers, I created a Google Form and shared it all over Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok. I received a bit over 200 applications, which was my goal. Unlike some authors, I did not eliminate applicants based off of their social media following. A reader is a reader, and every review counts. I’m just so appreciative of each and every person who was genuinely interested in reading A Sparrow Among Stars!
Yes! Even as your editor, I know I’ve been hanging on every review and constructive note, so I can imagine the way you’ve been feeling as you’re now getting reviews on Goodreads from your ARC readers too. Pretty soon, everyone can join Serena Finch and her friends on their journey to Symptee! I can’t wait!
How did you decide on the release date for your book? Was there any specific reason behind choosing August 19?
Research told me Monday and Tuesday were common release dates in publishing. Knowing where we were in the editing process, we determined mid-August would work, so I chose the Monday after my birthday. I wanted to celebrate my accomplishment that weekend without obsessively checking my book stats.
Haha. I like the way you think! One last question: What advice would you give to aspiring indie authors who are just starting their publishing journey?
Start building your audience now. Some of my favorite social media accounts are aspiring authors who post hilarious reels and relatable content about writing and editing. Be yourself and be proud of whatever step you’re at in the writing process. Make friends with other indie authors because the community is so incredibly supportive of each other, and that’s honestly been one of my favorite parts of my launch. I’ve had the opportunity to read some fabulous novels by indie authors, and many of them have turned around, read and cheered for A Sparrow Among Stars, too.
That’s so great to hear. One of our visions at Verse & Vine is to cultivate a community of writers who encourage and aid one another because we know the difference that can make throughout the entire publishing process. I’ve seen the way other indie authors have rallied around you in support, and it warms my heart.
Sara’s book will be available in hard cover and paperback through Amazon and Barnes and Noble August 19, but you can pre-order the Kindle ebook on Amazon now.