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Tell me about your writing journey. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? What has it been like to see your baby BITE SOMEBODY becoming a reality this week?
Pretty sure I was born with a pen in my hand … which was probably really uncomfortable for my mom. I went to college and studied creative writing at Ohio University and left with at least 25% of my liver intact. I worked in the wine business for a while, then publishing, but I always wrote. Finally, a couple years ago, I took up writing full-time. I’m a columnist for SheKnows.com. I write marketing copy. Most importantly, I write short stories, personal essays, and novels. Seeing Bite Somebody in the hands of readers is a dream come true. I’ve been singing “Once in a Lifetime” all week, wondering how I got here.
Do you have any other published work that you would like to share? Any other projects currently in the works?
There’s a Bite Somebody sequel, but of course, we’re keeping details about that under wraps!
BITE SOMEBODY features Celia, who just so happens to be a vampire. (I love a good vampire story, by the way!) Throughout the book, you reference a lot of other vampire stories. What are some of your personal favorite vampire tales? Beyond the fangs, what are some of your favorite stories?
I love The Lesser Dead and Suicide Motor Club by Christopher Buehlman. On the less violent side, I adore Michael Griffo’s Archangel Academy series. There will always be a place in my heart for Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. Non-vampire related, I’m addicted to Rainbow Rowell, Christopher Moore, and Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Oh, and I just finished Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which everyone should read. Everyone.
Well, you know, Celia has some serious repressed issues that play havoc on her self-confidence and almost sabotage any chance she has with a romantic relationship with her neighbor Ian. If anyone needs a therapist, it’s Celia. Plus, as someone who’s been in therapy myself, it was fun to play with the stereotype of the oh-so-perfect holier-than-thou mental health expert with her wire rim glasses and probing, judgy face.
As a writer, what was the most influential piece of advice you received and who was it from?
Elmore Leonard told me, “Don’t try too hard.” I laughed. He didn’t mean to stop being ambitious (I don’t think). He meant stop trying to be something you’re not. Don’t try to write like Hemingway or Dickens. Write like YOU. Embrace your own voice, and when you do that, writing is easy and fun.
What do you enjoy beyond the books and writing?
Staring at Benedict Cumberbatch (while always reminding my husband that he’s hotter, however). Cuddling with my dogs. Watching comic horror films like Reanimator, Army of Darkness, Trick or Treat, the list goes on. I’m a Halloween fanatic, and half my jewelry and clothes are covered in skulls. I love cocktail hour—expensive scotch or absinthe—and laughing really hard with my family.
Going back to BITE SOMEBODY, is there anything else you would like to share about this novel? Any fun or weird tales that you experienced while writing or editing it?
Well, it started out as a short story. I sent it to Shimmer Magazine, and although they really enjoyed it, the editor (E. Catherine Tobler) said, “This should be a novel.” I started writing the first draft in bed and finished it 41 days later. When World Weaver Press fell in love with it, my editor Trysh Thompson asked me to change the entire thing from first-person journal format to third person POV. So the weirdest thing? Seeing a 5,000-word short story turn into a 75,000-word novel that is now being shipped all over the country!
How can my readers find you on the world wide web? In other words, what are some ways others can connect with you (i.e., website and social media)?
I am super active (and possibly annoying) on social media. Come follow my shenanigans:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraDobie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraDobieBauer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saradobiebauer/
Tumblr: http://saradobiebauer.tumblr.com/
Or just visit my website: https://saradobiebauer.com/
Let's turn the table here and ask my readers a question! What is one question you would like to ask the readers of TIF TALKS BOOKS?
My question for you: What is the book that changed your life the most?
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“Do you want to be perfect?”
That’s what Danny asked Celia the night he turned her into a vampire. Three months have passed since, and immortality didn’t transform her into the glamorous, sexy vamp she was expecting but left her awkward, lonely, and working at a Florida gas station. On top of that, she’s a giant screw-up of an immortal, because the only blood she consumes is from illegally obtained hospital blood bags.
What she needs to do—according to her moody vampire friend Imogene—is just … bite somebody. But Celia wants her first bite to be special, and she has yet to meet Mr. Right Bite. Then, Ian moves in next door. His scent creeps through her kitchen wall and makes her nose tingle, but insecure Celia can’t bring herself to meet the guy face-to-face.
When she finally gets a look at Ian’s cyclist physique, curly black hair, and sun-kissed skin, other parts of Celia tingle, as well. Could he be the first bite she’s been waiting for to complete her vampire transformation? His kisses certainly have a way of making her fangs throb.
Just when Celia starts to believe Ian may be the fairy tale ending she always wanted, her jerk of a creator returns to town, which spells nothing but trouble for everyone involved.
About Sara Dobie Bauer:
Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. She spends most days at home in her pajamas as a book nerd and sex-pert for SheKnows.com. Her short story, “Don’t Ball the Boss,” was nominated for the 2015 Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she would really like to live in a Tim Burton film. For more about Sara, visit her website: http://SaraDobieBauer.com.
Where to Buy Bite Somebody:
World Weaver Press http://www.worldweaverpress.com/store/p103/Bite_Somebody.html
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Bite-Somebody-Sara-Dobie-Bauer-ebook/dp/B01DL9M2UC
Fun interview! I love the sound of this book and the author's profile pic is great!
ReplyDeleteJenny ... I just finished the book yesterday and it was a fun read!! I will be posting a review of it soon!
DeleteLove this! Sara is so great (I got to meet her a few months back) and I'm so glad that she's out and about on the web!
ReplyDeleteAllison @ The Book Wheel ... That is awesome that you met her in person! I would love to, especially after only chatting with her online for years.
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