Page 25 - Novelist Post – J.D. Barker and more

ers pick up one of my books and discover magi- cal realism (fantasy). Then, they pick up another and find a mystery. Another is a romance, and so forth. It’s a game I play with myself and my readers. Each of my books is a surprise and a new adventure.
What books do you find yourself returning to again and again?
The Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It’s a balm for my soul to read of Anne Shirley,
Diana Barry, Gilbert
Blythe, and Marilla
Cuthbert. The writing is
kissed with Montgom-
ery’s signature style and
the characters feel like
dear, old friends. They
welcome me home to
Green Gables with each
successive reading.
What books are you embarrassed not to have read yet?
I only read the first book in the Harry Potter series. I know! I was already at university when J.K. Rowley made her triumphant debut. I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on as- signment in a Contempo- rary Children’s Literature course. To be even more honest, I probably won’t ever read the rest, but I greatly admire the world- wide love of reading that Rowley reignited for millennials.
What are you reading now?
I’m in a season of
memoirs. I gobble them
like popcorn. I recently
read The Girl on the Bal-
cony by Olivia Hussey.
Also, I’m No Philoso-
pher, But I Got Thoughts
by Kristin Chenoweth
and Stanley Tucci’s
Taste. All so unique in style, content, and format—much like life! And all are excellently written. I couldn’t put them down.
You are an American but do other countries and cultures influence your writing?
So very much. My passport may be USA but my mother is Puerto Rican and my father’s lin- eage is Irish, Choctaw, Swedish. He was a mili-
tary officer so I grew up overseas and moved all around the United States. My husband became a military physician. He grew up in Germany and loves to travel. We were stationed at a fort on the border of Mexico (El Paso, TX) for nearly
someone explaining how my books have moved them, changed them, brought back a memory, helped them understand, or merely entertained them greatly. I know we, authors, are not sup- posed to read reviews, but I value the opinions of my readers too highly to ignore them. I read every single one. And yes, a few hurt but the majority inspire me to keep sitting down at my desk hour after hour, day after day. I’ve just opened my Zoom calendar to book clubs around the globe in celebration of Mustique Island. My
a decade before settling in North Carolina. I am proudly multicultural. That’s a blessing that I do not take for granted. As the pandemic showed us unequivocally, the world is small and we are all interconnected. To answer your question: yes, other countries and cultures absolutely influence
website has a form for Book Clubs to fill out requesting a free, 30-minute virtual visit for me to pop into their group gathering, an- swer questions and say hello. Meeting book clubs virtually is one of the unexpected blessings of the pandemic times. We have all become experts in connecting across miles, countries, and time zones. It’s one of my favorite parts of modern publishing. I hope your readers reach out, too.
my writing and stories. Global community is the essence of humanity. After all, we’re sharing this crazy journey called life.
What’s one of your favorite parts of being a published writer?
Connecting with readers! You, readers, are the reason I write. There’s no greater joy than making lifelong friends through my books. It’s so encouraging to hear or read a review from
What are you writing next?
I tend to keep my new books pretty secretive until they are on the production line. I’m protective as a mother during their creative developments. That said, I can tell you that my new novel is loosely based
on real-life events related to a celebrity mystery. It thrills me to be able to share this story. Harper Collins will publish it in 2025
PHOTO: Sarah McCoy, bestselling novelist and literary trailblazer, brings captivating characters and timeless stories to life with her extraordinary talent.
Global community is the essence of
humanity. After all, we're sharing this crazy journey called life.
– Sarah McCoy
NOVELIST POST II 25