Word Processor, Romance, Cats, Kids and Creed: Author Spotlight: Sara Butler Zalesky (Wheeler Series)

Good morning book lovers! Today, we're focusing the spotlight on Sara Butler Zalesky! She is the author of the Wheeler Series. Please show Sara some love, and don't forget to check out her books! ♥

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An Interview with Sara Butler Zalesky

Discussing Wheeler

Genre: Sports Romance

What inspired you to write this book?

It was June of 2015 and I was watching the Aviva Women’s Tour in England while working on an indoor cycling profile for my Tour de France classes. The idea to write a story about a character in the Women’s Tour caught fire and exploded in my brain.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I might take a break from writing, but probably not. I have two ideas bubbling in the back of my brain at the moment. One is a Fantasy/Thelma & Louise type story where two Searchers are on a quest for the Eye of Osiris. The other is a romance/suspense about a NJ State Trooper. Maybe.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Wheeler?

Loren Mackenzie is the main character of the Wheeler series. She’s reserved with a dry sense of humor, a good friend, and a teensy bit controlling. She’s a closet romantic with a big heart and sees her teammates as her sisters.

Graham Atherton is her current love interest (and minor antagonist). He’s British a Shakespearean-trained actor. Sexy but not your average romantic lead type. He uses the Bard’s words to make Loren go all ‘fangirl,’ and it works.

Felix Lalonde is Loren’s manipulating first love and main antagonist of the series. He has been obsessed with her – the one that got away but also as a kindred spirit. They have lived through similar childhood abuse and neglect. Unfortunately, his fixation turns violent.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

There were times when I loved writing. The words flowed from my fingers to the keyboard, but then there were times when I didn’t want to write, I had to write. It became a compulsion that took me over.

Who designed your book covers?

My best friend, Bob produced my covers for me, but I came up with the design. There’s a little homage to Athena on them. Can you find it?

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Truthfully, I never would have published Wheeler in 2016 without first committing the money and hired an editor before anyone ever saw it. That is and forever will be my biggest regret.

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

I learned so much about how to write and how NOT to write. I learned I’m a total pantser. I tried to plot the third novel and it went way left, but in a good way, I hope.

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

My characters are based on real people but I’m not going to say who. I might get in trouble.

If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be?

It might surprise you, but I’d spend the day with Charlotte, Loren’s best friend. She’s full of snark.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

It’s the strangest feeling to have characters you gave mental birth to jump off the path you set for them. There have been times I’ve gone back and read something I don’t recall ever writing. Obviously, I wrote it … or did I?

What did you edit out of this book?

I edited out almost 60k words from Wheeler, some of which I used the second novel, In Darkness, There Is Still Light.

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?'-type tidbits about the author, the book or the writing process of the book.

· Loren is more me than I’d like to admit. While I didn’t have the kind of childhood she had, her reactions to situations are mine.

· There are little references, jokes or pop culture sprinkled in each the novels that are about things I like or dislike.

· I had to read every word Shakespeare ever wrote and comprehend the meaning of the lines before I could use them. Believe me, I dug deep to get the right ones, but I don’t remember a word of it.

Sara has never lacked for imagination, but it wasn’t until the Fates decided to give the string of her life a tug, bringing her romantic leanings together with her passion for the sport of cycling and Poof! A story was written down and completed, much to her surprise and chagrin.

She is a (self)published author of women's fiction/sports romance novels, Wheeler and Wheeler: In Darkness, There is Still Light. A third novel to complete the series is in development.

The author resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, with her husband and their son. Sara is a paralegal for a law firm in Chester County, Pa, an avid road cyclist, and indoor cycling instructor at a national chain.