Sarah Barrie – Rural Aussie Mysteries

  Sarah Barrie’s rural mysteries feature strong women who don’t need rescuing – women very much after Sarah’s own heart. Hi there!  I’m your host Jenny Wheeler and today Sarah talks about why city women love reading romantic suspense set in rural Australia, and running a farm while also writing best sellers. Six things you’ll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: Why ‘finding your man‘ isn’t the whole answer How ‘writing what you know’ worked for her The place that most closely resembles “Hunter’s Ridge” of her stories Knowledge is power – what she’d do differently The writers she admires most Fitting writing into her schedule as farmer and mother Where to find Sarah Barrie:  Website: http://www.sarahbarrieauthor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.barrie.969 What follows is a “near as” transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny: But now, here’s Sarah. .  Hello there Sarah and welcome to the show, it’s great to have you with us. Sarah Barrie – popular romantic suspense  Sarah: Thanks Jenny, it’s great to be here. Jenny:   Beginning at the beginning – was there a “Once Upon A Time” moment when you decided you wanted to write fiction?  And if there was a catalyst, what was it? Sarah: Well I used to devour my grandmother’s Mills & Boon  books as a kid, I really enjoyed them a lot. I loved the romance, and the exotic places, and all the wonderful stories. But I guess what was considered romantic  at the time was the women; they all needed rescuing. That was something I wasn’t really a huge fan of. So I just didn’t come to that. It didn’t meet my ideals of strong women, and I ‘d get frustrated, and come up with alternatives in my mind and start rewriting the story. So right back when I was a teenager, I started playing around with writing. Later as a journalist, I decided I wanted to give it a proper go, and wrote my first novel when I was in my early thirties. Jenny: Great! What happened to that particular manuscript? Sarah: The first one I wrote is never to be seen again. The second one, I actually wrote it as an entry for one of the Romance Writers of Australia competitions. I didn’t expect it really to do much. It did pretty well points wise, and so I subbed it to Escape Publishing, and Kate Cuthbert who is absolutely lovely was very supportive, and managed to get it published for me. Jenny: Was that The Secrets of Whitewater Creek? Sarah: No, that was just a short, romantic, contemporary romance called Getting Wild. It’s short, it’s a little bit of a comedy, and it was published through Escape. Secrets of Whitewater Creek I actually played with writing before that. Jenny: And you chose romantic suspense as your genre?  Have you always been drawn to include suspense? Sarah: Absolutely. Like I said, I really like to write about strong heroines. There’s a danger element in it, getting a chance to build on that ideal. Also, it’s a more complex story arc for me. I find it very hard to write full length romance, and to see the hero and heroine’complement each other in times of danger, and working things out together rather than one being rescued. I just found that the suspense genre gave me the scope to do that. Jenny: Yes, I think one of the things I like about romantic suspense is that you do get a story in addition to a relationship, and the feeling that a relationship is the be all and end all of everything in life is something that I find a bit hard to swallow. It’s the idea that if you find the right man, and everything going to be hunky dory from there on in. If you’ve got the romantic suspense, you’ve got the reminder that it may not always turn out well, even if you have the great guy at your side! Sarah: That’s true; you can’t spend your life thinking as soon as you find this right man, life is going to be happily ever after. In my  books they meet other and there’s a love interest there, but there’s still obstacles to overcome. That’s life though, isn’t it? Secrets of Whitewater Creek – Sarah Barrie Jenny: Your debut novel, The Secrets of Whitewater Creek – was a standalone which was a best-seller – a great way to start!   – and then you moved on to write the Hunters Ridge Series. Tell us about “being discovered” and then the move on to doing the series . . . .How did that transition occur. Sarah: Absolutely. When I initially finished Secrets, which was after I had just spoken to Kate, I sent it off to a few different publishers. I didn’t even get a rejection letter, I just got nothing back. I had no idea what I was doing; I was probably going about it all wrong. It was one of those points where I was like “well, you know what? I managed to write a short contemporary, but if this is as far as I’m going to go, is this really the path for me?” I asked Kate Cuthbert, and she read it and said “this is your real voice, this is what you should be doing. It’s wonderful”. And it just went from there. It started with Escape, and then Harlequin picked it up from France. Jenny: Fantastic. That was a stand alone, and then you went onto write the Hunter Ridge series I think didn’t you? How did that transition occur? Sarah: I was asked to write another suspense novel, and I started off with The Legacy, which was an idea that had been playing in my mind. As the story progressed, these other characters evolved which I felt needed to have their own story. I had these lovely readers write in and say, “can we hear about this person, can we hear about that person, could you give them their own stories?” So, I just made sure that I set it up enough at the end- I actually had to go back and change each of the books to ensure there was enough suspense to move onto the next two books. I loved doing that, because I was getting to explore in more depth the characters that were in that book. That’s really how it came about. Jenny: Is Hunter’s Ridge a real place? Is it a play on the Hunter Valley, or has it got nothing to do with the Hunter Valley? Sarah: No, it’s not the Hunter Valley. It’s up around Mudgee and Kandos. It is based in a real place, but there are a few little twists and turns that wouldn’t be realistic in that area that I just needed for my story. Coming up with a fictional town, I’m allowed to make those changes if I needed to, but it’s that sort of area, yes. Jenny: Your latest book Bloodtree River is set in Tasmania and features a  woman police officer, Indiana O’Meara who goes undercover at a country lodge investigating missing girls – this is planned as a stand alone novel? Sarah: Again. it was planned as a stand alone, and it is very much a stand alone in its own right. Again, I’ve got two more books set with some of the same characters involved. They will be three complete stand alone books- you won’t have needed to have read any of the others to enjoy them, but again playing with this idea of bringing more characters forward; it seems readers really enjoy that. They like to see the progression of characters through the three books, along the period of time. It’s certainly fun to write. Legacy of Hunter Ridge – Sarah Barrie Jenny: Yes, we’ll get on to talking about that a little bit later. This is called “The Joys of Binge Reading”, and there really is quite a trend towards “series” books, even if they’re not series book strictly speaking, but involving the same characters or the same setting or some link, so that they feel when they’ve invested time into the first one, they’re going to get a pay off by reading something that is very similar. I think it’s worked quite well today for writers, as well as readers. Sarah: Absolutely. Readers, they invest in the characters and they get to know them. As soon as they pick up that second or third book, they already love the characters and are very interested to see how their stories are going to pan out, or how what has happened in previous books is going to affect them moving forward. They almost become real people in the author’s head, by the time you’ve got through several books in a few years. I think it helps to develop more complex characters, and that’s definitely going to benefit the books. Jenny:  You live on a country property in an area that is probably quite similar to the setting for your books – is that part of the fun for you – writing “what you know.” (Is Hunters Ridge a real place?) Sarah: It is fun.  A lot of people say “write what you know.” I don’t know if a fully believe that. I think that you need to push the boundaries and keep evolving. There are certainly elements of living on a farm that can be bought onto the pages in so many ways. Even if it’s just a little bit of comedy, or a little bit of a break from the tension, or otherwise to build that and to help with the suspense- that acknowledgement of country life- certainly helps. I think that it is interesting to read abut; there’s so many different story arcs involved with rural living, and a basis for who my characters are. Jenny: There’s been a real boom in rural romance generally hasn’t there, maybe as long as a decade ago. I mean a decade ago, there was hardly any of that kind around, and now there’s at least a dozen writers writing in that rural romance genre.  What is the appeal of rural Australia to readers do you think – when the vast majority of them would probably live in big cities . . . Sarah: There is I guess that novelty of reading perhaps what you don’t know, but also from speaking to readers- I think as a nation Australians, even if we don’t live in the country, we seem to be able to identify with it. We’re raised on The Man from Snowy River, and all of these wonderful stories and poems. We just have a strong sense of who we are. I think that people that can’t be out there, readers that can’t experience it first hand really enjoy feeling like they’re coming into contact with the rural elements of Australia through reading the books. Jenny: Yes, I agree with you actually. Even as a Kiwi, I enjoy that aspect of it- that you feel like you’re visiting a part of Australia and learning more about it, it’s quite a strong draw. If readers wanted to visit “Hunter Country” – the landscape of your books – where would you suggest they go? Sarah: As I’ve said before, out around Mudgee and a lot of the smaller villages and towns around there. Also Kandos – gateway to the Capertee Valley –  and the mountain peaks around the western part of the central coast of New South Wales. All those mountain areas, and the rural farming areas out there; they’re prime examples of the places that I’m writing about. The general setting for Sarah Barrie’s fictional “Hunter Valley”   Jenny: Sure. It’s sort of Western New South Wales as well is it, have I got my geography right? Sarah: It’s basically between Sydney and Newcastle, but west from both. It’s sort of almost in the lower half of the middle. Geography isn’t my thing! Jenny: And you’re on the Central Coast aren’t you? Sarah: That’s correct, yes. Jenny: How far on the Coast are you? Sarah: About 45 minutes I would say. Geographically, probably not that close but the roads where we are are all freeways and motorways, so it doesn’t take too long which is great. Capertee Valley country – typical of the landscape of Sarah Barrie’s books Turning from specific books to wider look at your career – Jenny: What is the one thing you’ve done more than any other that has been the secret to your success?  Sarah: I’d probably say just keep writing. If you can’t find time, you have to make time. The most difficult part in creating a bestseller is getting in front of that keyboard everyday, no matter how many other things need to happen. If you can sit down and get the words down, you’ll create a book. Obviously, you just need to keep at it and don’t get discouraged. The whole idea is just sitting there, and getting it done. Believing that it’s going to turn into a book. That’s probably been the biggest thing for me, to be able to get that time in when I really don’t think I can. Jenny: Sure. Tell us about your daily discipline- do you have a certain number of hours that you write? How do you fit it into your day, because you’re a busy mum as well with a lot of other interests. How do you fit it in with everything? Sarah: Well, I don’t really have a typical day except that we get up early, and get all of the farm stuff out of the way. The kids have to go to school. I spend three and a half hours every day getting my kids to various school activities. This time of year, every 4 hours I’m feeding lambs. The horses are barely getting a look in. We’ve got an orchid farm as well. So really, what I need to be is flexible in my time frame, but always try and at least find two hours. If I can’t fit in two hours, I have to put everyone to bed and sit up and write through the evening just to get it done. On a good day, I can normally get about 3-4 hours of writing in. It might be in dribs and drabs. It’s not always sitting down and getting a solid couple of hours. I’m certainly not one of those authors to have a perfect schedule. Jenny: Did I hear you say orchid farm? As in flowers? Sarah: Yes Jenny: How gorgeous! That sounds lovely. Sarah: It’s a pretty big farm. My husband runs it, I don’t have to do too much thankfully. It’s just another time consuming thing that has to happen, but it’s wonderful. They’re right out at the moment, and looking wonderful. I can’t complain! Jenny: I guess they’re all under glass, are they? Sarah: Yes, we have three greenhouses, one of which is the size of a football field. Then we have a few that a bit smaller. We like to be busy; I think that’s the best way to put it! Jenny: You worked as a journalist before beginning to write fiction. Tell us a little of life before you began writing romantic suspense. Were you on magazines, newspapers? Sarah: I was on magazines – equestrian mainly. I was writing and submitting articles, and it just so happened that the editor of one of the equestrian magazines that I was writing for had to pull out. I got the phone call to see if I could take over. I really wasn’t sure I could, because I hadn’t had any formal training. But I gave it a go, and it’s one of those “learn as you work” situations. It was great, I met a lot of wonderful people, but I was never quite so interested in the admin side of the actual structure of putting together the magazine. I just wanted to put in articles rather than the advertising, and I did struggle with that a little bit. Certainly when I started to write novels again, there was just too much on my plate like we just talked about. I ended up doing two magazines as well, so it was one or the other. For my mental health, I decided that the novels were the way to go. Jenny: And you’ve an interest in Australian Arabian horses – breeding and general news… Sarah: I’ve been one of these horse mad girls growing up, and I’ve always had them. There’s lots and lots of Australian Arabians, and I fell into the breed by chance when I was visiting a wonderful woman known in the Arabian world, Lesley Dowey. She was just so passionate about the breed. Sometimes they’re not the easiest, but once you get one and you get that friendship and partnership happening, personally I couldn’t ever go back. They’re just one of those breeds that give you everything they have. They’re capable of turning their heads to pretty much anything, and I just love them. So that’s where I’ve ended up. Jenny: That’s fantastic. Do you ride much, or find much time for riding? Sarah: I used to ride a lot, but at the moment. I have one horse who would love a bit more time spent on him. He’s incredibly smart, an incredibly smart horse. He outsmarts me quite often. He’s my only riding horse at the moment. My daughter first started riding him, and my son just last week. So we’re just trying to fit in a little bit of everything. We’ll just see how we go. Jenny:   It’s sometimes said writers tend to write the same story in different guises.   Do you agree with that idea and if so what is that story for you? Sarah: No. I think in some senses, themes might be similar and certainly some writers do write with a core structure element that is pretty easy to spot. That doesn’t necessarily detract from any story; it can work really well. But all I really think about really is writing strong heroines who overcome unforgivable odds, and how many different ways can I show this? So I don’t personally write to any formula, I tend to write like a big jigsaw and when I have all the basic core elements down, then I’ll just piece them together and try and make them as different as I possibly can. Jenny: The strong women thing- that must have come from somewhere- growing up, were you aware of the need for women to be strong? How did that come into your life? Sarah: I think if you grow up in a rural area, especially a farm, you can’t be waiting around for the dad, the brother or the boyfriend or husband to rescue you. You need to be able to round up the cattle, pull a lamb and lift the feed bags. It’s expected out here. You don’t get cossetted at because you’re a female; you get all the responsibilities, you do the same jobs. Going back to those Mills and Boons, that whole idea that they were looked after, like they were fragile- it just wasn’t something that resonated within me at all. Jenny: Right. Did you grow up in that same area where you now live? Sarah: Yes, I did. I moved across the road to a property when I was thirty, but that’s as far as I’ve gone! Bronwyn Parry a favourite Sarah as Reader Jenny: The series is called “The Joys of Binge Reading” because I see it as providing inspiration for people who like to read series . . . .The preference in our culture for the instant and addictive – Netflix in reading… So – turning to your taste in fiction who – if anyone – do you “binge read” Sarah: I’d like to be a binge reader- I don’t always have time to be. At the moment, I’m mostly listening to audible books when I’m driving the kids around, and that’s only when I’ve dropped them off because obviously I can’t listen to that stuff around kids. When I’m on the treadmill, I’ll have my laptop in front of me and I’ll read then. Sometimes at night as well, I’ll read. I used to love binge reading, but not so much at the moment. But in terms of writers I like to read, I love Nora Roberts. She has lots of series, so I probably took a little out of her hat doing that as well. I also like Lisa Gardner. Close to home, I like to read authors like Helene Young, Bronwyn Parry, Tea Cooper- there’s lots of good Aussie authors that I’m starting to read as well. I tend to read very much in my genre; I like crime, thrillers, romantic suspense. There are so many good books to read at the moment, you just don’t ever run out. I have a very big “to read” pile at the moment. Jenny: That’s great. I guess if you’re listening to the books in the car, you have to make sure they’re suitable for little ears as well! Sarah: Yes. While I have the kids in the car, we listen to their music which sometimes does my head in a little bit, but that’s ok! And then once they’re off, I have another 45 minutes in which I can put my audible book on and get involved with that, it’s great. Jenny: Are they going to the same school that you yourself went to years ago? Sarah: No. My son is very interested in soccer, so he’s going to the international football school. My daughter goes to the grammar school at the other end of the coast, so that’s why there’s so much driving involved. And do you have a current series or author – or more than one – you’d like to recommend to listeners? Circling around from beginning to end Jenny:  At this stage in your career, If you were setting up all over again, what if anything would you change? Sarah: Absolutely. The whole idea of “I think I might write a book and send it off to the publishers” isn’t really the best way to go about it. It depends on the genre that you’re interested in, but for example the romance writers in Australia- I’d have joined them straight away from the outset because you’re straight away involved in a community where you can get all the information you need, the competitions they’re running, conferences where you can meet with editors and agents and learn a lot about your craft. Had I known about that, that’s how I would have gone. It’s really about understanding the industry, and I think it really gives you a lead against other people that don’t know about these things. But there’s also a Crime Writers Association for Australia, which is also very good. But knowledge is absolutely power. It’s a much better way to go. Helene Young – another Australian writer Jenny: How long was it after you started writing that you discovered the Romance Writers of Australia? Sarah: Well around about the time I wrote that little contemporary romance, because I basically wrote it after hearing of that competition. It’s called the High Five competition, I’m not sure if they do that one anymore. I only had to write five pages- and don’t quote me on this- but I believe if you got within a top certain mark, you had to send the rest of the manuscript in. I had to write it really quickly, but there’s lots of competitions for published writers, and you get reader feedback if you go through. If you’re up in the placings, you might get an agent or an editor to look at it; it’s a great way to go. Jenny: Great. Do you use advanced reader teams for your books, a group of people who read your books ahead of publication and give you feedback? Sarah: Yes, I do. I have several authors who I know very well. We all help out with manuscripts, critique partners Ann Harrison, Tea Cooper and also a lovely lady who I did a two day writing course with who ended up becoming a really good friend of mine, Catherine Coulter. She always has a look for me as well, so I get that feedback before I have to submit. That’s something that RWA does as well; they have a critique writer scheme for people that are writing, and don’t know who to get to look at their manuscripts. You can partner up there, and it can be really valuable too. Jenny:  What is next for Sarah the writer – projects under development Sarah: I’ve recently completed next year’s release, which is related to Bloodtree River and right now, I’ve just started working on this third book that will be set in Tasmania. Jenny: Does number 2 have a title yet? Sarah: No- it’s really under construction. I wouldn’t want to tell you the wrong one! Jenny: And do you roughly do one book a year? Is that what you aim for? Sarah: It is now. The Hunter Ridge series I did, I did three books in two years. It was a little bit of a rush, I was a bit stressed out! Right now I’m just going to concentrate on one book a year. I might up that again later, but I find it works really well for me. Jenny: What are they- around 100,000 words? Sarah: A little over, usually about 110-115,000. Jenny: Coming to an end where can readers find you online, and do you like interacting with readers? Sarah: I love it! Readers are the reason that my books have taken the direction they have. I love hearing feedback, I love hearing the elements that readers are most interested in- the characters that they love the most. I’m on Facebook as Sarah Barrie Author. I get lots and lots of comments there all the time, and it’s great to read. I also have a website, sarahbarrieauthor.com. That’s where people can look at my blogs- I’ve only just put the blog back in, so I’m feeling very proud of myself!- and contact me through that as well. Jenny: That’s great. Thank you so much for your time- I’ll let you get back to your writing now! What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon? Sarah: Well in about 10 minutes, I have to go and feed a lamb, and then I’ll mix the horse feeds up. I’ll probably duck out to grab my kids shortly after that, we’ve got gymnastics on this afternoon. Then it’ll be time to feed the lambs again, make dinner and get everything ready for tomorrow! Jenny: Wow! Well thank you so much. Sarah: Thank you, Jenny. 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