Author Interview: Sarah Hanks

We're here today to chat with delightful author Sarah Hanks. She just might be busier than I am as she has five times as many children (if you're bad with math, just keep reading and you'll find out how many that is). Her books sound just as delightful and I hope you'll check them out after getting to know her here today.

---

 When you write, is there a genre you gravitate toward more than another? Why?

I write split-time because I can’t seem to decide whether I enjoy historical or contemporary better. It’s fascinating to me how history impacts the present and I love to explore those connections in my novels. Nothing happens in a vacuum. My stories show how history inspires people in modern-day to make either similar or different choices.

Which of your characters is most like you and how?

That’s a hard one because there are pieces of me in every story I write. I will say that Amber’s journey with POTS in Fall Back and Find Me closely mirrors my own. I’m not Amber—Our personalities are a bit different—but the experience she goes through and how she deals with it reflects my own personal experience.
This is hard to admit because Amber is not always the most likeable character. When I went through 7+ years of chronic illness, I probably wasn’t the most likeable person either. Though I tried to display a tough and positive front, I was struggling big time with discouragement. The lesson Amber learns about her identity not being in what she does but in what Christ says about her is powerful. I know this first-hand as it truly changed my life to ask Jesus each day what He says about me. I’m thankful that readers tend to stick with Amber through the bumps and come out on the other side with a newfound understanding and appreciation of those who struggle with chronic illness.

If a reader were to pick up one of your books for the first time, what could she or he expect?

She can expect all the feels. Readers tell me often that my books make them cry, laugh, and feel deeply. They experience a wide range of beautiful human emotion with my characters, walking in their skin. 

What are you working on next? Can you give us a sneak peek?

Right now I’m writing the 2nd book in the Time Sailor series, Braving Fiery Waters. This series differs from my other books in that these books are timeslips/time travel novels. For me, they’re not much different to write. There’s still a historical storyline and a contemporary one. The only difference is a slight speculative element that transports a character from one to the other. It’s fun to write something a bit different.
 
With nine children, how on earth do you find time to write stories and curricula for Bible classes too?

Well, I don’t write Sunday school curricula anymore. That was in my “past life” before I started taking fiction writing seriously. I also don’t homeschool, though I used to. My children all go to school, with the exception of my 20-year-old with Down syndrome who goes to a day program. I’m privileged to have an ultra-supportive husband who allows me to pursue my writing passion. Every season of life has had its own rhythm. This season won’t last as is too much longer as I’m due with baby #10 in August.

Last but not least, what is one fact about yourself that very few people already know?
​
Another hard question because I’m pretty much an open book. If you follow me on social media, you know that I’m obsessed with the color yellow and ice cream. Hmm… in light of the release of Whatever It Takes, I will say that I’ve had three home births and four hospital births. (If you do the math, you’ll know two of our children are adopted.) My favorite birth was my home birth with my daughter Humility. It was 99% pain free and a delightful experience. (Unfortunately, it was the only birth of its kind. The others hurt!) 

I can't even imagine. Wow! And congrats on baby #10! Now, dear readers, if you're in as much awe as I am, keep going and make sure you follow Sarah as well as checking out her latest book.

---

Whatever It Takes

At the brink of the Civil War, Henrietta Frontenac is a fierce protector of her five younger sisters. As poverty and despair threaten their survival, Henrietta takes a bold step to protect her family. She disguises herself as a man to find work at the docks and is soon swept into the ranks of the Confederate army. Facing unimaginable risks, will she maintain her secret identity, or will unexpected love unravel all she’s worked for?
In the present, Everly Moore, a former wild spirit turned compassionate chiropractor, has spent fifteen years trying to redeem her past. When her beloved sister Ivy faces the heart-wrenching challenge of infertility, Everly finds herself at a crossroads, unsure if she can confront her own trauma and step up as Ivy’s surrogate. After Everly and Ivy stumble upon the story of their brave relative Henrietta, they are inspired to confront their own fears. But will they make the difficult choices that could change their lives forever?
Dive deep into this intertwined narrative where past and present collide, showcasing the unyielding strength of sisterhood. A story of love, resilience, and the battles that unite us across generations.

---

---

Sarah Hanks is an award-winning author of Christian fiction in both the contemporary and historical genres. After spending over a decade mostly writing and teaching Sunday school curricula for churches in her community, she finally jumped into writing fiction full-time. She and her husband have nine children of their own, a couple of whom seem to have inherited their mother’s love for playing with words and crafting stories. Though Sarah dreams of a cabin by the beach, the family lives jammed together in beautiful chaos near St. Louis, Missouri. She buys earplugs in bulk.


​Website: www.sarah-hanks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahHanks
Instagram: https://instagram.com/authorsarahhanks