Stacy Mitchell is the author of Saving Each Other.
What would you do if the most important people in your world were suddenly and violently taken away from you? Saving Each Other is a contemporary romance novel told from a dual point of view. It’s a story of loss, and how hope, friendship, and love can heal even the most shattered souls. Tissues required.
Read on for an interview with Stacy.
Q. What are some things unique to your books?
A. Aside from adding details that make it seem like you’re watching a movie, I love quotes, or as my husband calls them, Squotes. It’s something you’ll see throughout my book. You also don’t find many books on the market where the main characters share chapters. Originally, I had five, but, over time, I narrowed it down to two. In the scene where Ean quotes Dani, mimicking her slurring her words, I actually slurred into my phone and let autocorrect do its thing. Also, in my second book, Josh talks with his mouth full. I shoved a bunch of crackers in my mouth and repeated his words. It was both messy, and effective.
Q. What do you think makes a good story?
A. I’m a very visual person, I was an interior decorator in my last life, so I love books with a ton of imagery. I also love books with real places in them. It’s so much fun to stumble across one when I’m reading, and I always Google and bookmark them. It’s also why I only include real places in my books.
Q. What are some of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
A. Keep your ears open and your mouth closed. Ideas can come from anywhere. And it really does take a village. I originally published my book August of last year. When the reviews came in, I not only read them, I got in touch with the people who wrote them. Best. Move. Ever! I got great advice and made a ton of new friends. It’s because of them that I re-opened Saving Each Other and spent the last four months revising it. Look for their names in the acknowledgment page.
And, don’t even get me started on the amazing women who helped me make my book what it is today, Stacey Blake, Judy Zweifel, Francine LaSala, and Sara Kocek.
Q. When you are struggling to write/have writer’s block, what are some ways that help you find your creative muse again?
A. Writer’s block isn’t an issue for me. Saving Each Other is the first in a series of five books. I wrote my second book, Saving Them, a month after my first, and I also wrote it in a month. The last three in the series, Saving Ourselves, Saving Christmas, and Saving Maybe, are partially written and completely mapped out. Going back to “ideas can come from anywhere,” I was in San Francisco last year and met an amazing man, who sadly was homeless. While talking to him, a sequel series, The Finding Series, played out in my mind. It’s all their kids.
Even though I haven’t experienced “Writer’s Block,” I have times when I’m uninspired. My words come from my characters, their voices roll through me. So, for the times I can’t hear them, I found that stepping back usually does the trick. By the time I start writing again, the words are much easier to find. Brian helps too. He’s my official “name” man. Other than the main characters, he named everyone. Talking it out helps too. I bounce ideas off my best friend, Leslie, and after a half an hour, I’m good to go.
Q. What was your greatest challenge in writing this book?
A. You won’t see it, because I’m surrounded by such amazing women, but I suck at grammar! Like legitimately suck!
Purchase Saving Each Other here.
Stacy Mitchell is a romance novelist, and author of Saving Each Other. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and lived in the South Bay for twenty years before moving to the Conejo Valley. She lives with her husband of twenty-eight years and is the mom of two grown sons.
