Tara Hodgson: At Least I'm Trying

In this episode of the Mind of Sai Marie, Tara Hodgson, author of Chasing Through Time, talks about her forthcoming October release, At Least I’m Trying. Thanks for reading Sai’s Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Tara shares her journey as an author, discussing her debut novel, Chasing Through Time, and she reflects on the pivotal moments in her writing career, the importance of research and authenticity in fiction, and the challenges of marketing in a crowded literary landscape. Tara emphasizes the impact of technology on storytelling and offers valuable advice for aspiring writers, encouraging them to overcome self-doubt and start writing. Our discussion underscores the importance of initiating conversations about real-life issues through fiction, particularly in the context of young adult literature.When the volleyball hits the floor mere inches from Reese’s hands, her dreams of playingcollege ball shatter.After consecutive failures on the court, in the classroom, and in her relationships, she’s doneplaying the part of perfect daughter, perfect student, and perfect athlete. It’s time for a new life.Enter Cassie Brentwood.Bold. Reckless. Free. Cassie is everything Reese isn’t yet longs to be. They quickly becomefriends and Cassie introduces her to Liam, a mysterious guy from Snapchat. Blinded by his lovebombing and the desperation to shed her perfect image, Reese plunges head first into their world.It feels instantly thrilling… until it’s not.Girls are disappearing from nearby towns, however no one in their quiet small town seemsconcerned.But when Liam’s behaviour grows darker, Reese’s new life begins to unravel. She ignores thewarnings. The red flags. The little voice screaming to her that something’s not right. Until she’sfar from home, trapped in a nightmare she can’t escape.With no one left to trust, Reese has to fight to reclaim the life she was so eager to leave behind.She wanted freedom. Now, she just wants to go home.At least she has to try.Told with searing honesty and lyrical depth, At Least I’m Trying is a poignant novel about mentalhealth, girlhood, and what happens when the version of yourself you’ve worked so hard tobecome starts to fall apart.At Least I’m Trying releases October 15, 2025, but you can preorder it now here: At Least I'm Trying - Tara Hodgson 📚✨Connect with Tara on Social Media:Instagram: IG - Tara HodgsonThreads: THREADS - Tara Hodsgon This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit saimarie.substack.com