Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with us as we talk to debut author, Sara Foust.

Sara writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Tennessee Mountain Writers. Her debut novel Callum’s Compass won second place in Deep River Books’ 2017 Writer’s Contest. She also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Sara finds inspiration in her faith, her family, and the beauty of nature. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, camping, and spending time outdoors with her family. To learn more about her and her work or to become a part of her email friend’s group, please visit www.saralfoust.com.

Welcome Sara!! We’re thrilled to have you here today. Congratulations on your debut release, Callum’s Compass. Check out this gorgeous cover!

Book Blurb:

KAT WILLIAMS’S brother died in a gruesome accident in the mountains of East Tennessee. She blames herself.

RYAN JENKINS’S fiancée was murdered. He couldn’t protect her.

With the death of her brother, Kat believes she is unworthy of love from anyone—even God. When a good friend elicits a promise that she will stop living in the past and then leaves her clues to a real-life treasure hunt, Kat embarks on an adventure chock-full of danger. To find the treasure, Kat will have to survive wild animals—and even wilder men. Can she rely on Ryan, the handsome wildlife officer assigned to protect her . . . without falling in love?

Ryan swore off love when his fiancée was murdered, but feelings long-buried rise to the surface around Kat. He volunteers to help with her treasure hunt, vowing to keep her safe. Together they venture deep into caves and tunnels . . . and even deeper into the depths of their unplumbed hearts.

Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076B9PBZL

SHAREE:

First, help our readers to get to know you more. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

SARA:

I am a homeschooling mom of five. We live on a mini-farm in East Tennessee, love to camp and just generally be outdoors, and are very involved with our little Baptist church and with 4-H activities.

SHAREE:

Being a full time mom and writer is not for the weak!

Let’s dive into the story. Which character are you most excited for readers to meet in your story and why?

SARA:

Kat, my heroine. She is someone who carries a lot of guilt, and I can relate to that. Callum’s Compass tells the story of her journey toward accepting her past mistakes, letting God have the guilt, and being willing to receive love from God and from the people in her life.

SHAREE:

Kat is fabulous and I love that you tied real life issues that many of us are familiar with into your story. Without a spoiler alert what is your favorite scene?

SARA:

Oh, this is a hard one! I would have to say the first time Kat hikes in Frozen Head State Park to gather salamander data at Debord Falls. On her trip back down the mountain in the dark, she gets a serious scare. It was exciting to write and I can still see it vividly in my mind.

SHAREE:

I love a good scare scene! We suspense writers are fun that way. What’s the biggest take away from Callum’s Compass?

SARA:

God loves us, no matter what our pasts hold. No matter what we’ve done, He will not stop loving us.

SHAREE:

AMEN!! What’s something your readers would be surprised to know about you?

SARA:

Hmmm, how about this one? Someday I really hope to travel to the Caribbean to visit all the old pirate haunts and scuba dive for my own sunken treasure.

SHAREE:

I can see you and Johnnie Depp battling those pirates! LOL.

One thing many authors are involved in is writing contests. Did you participate in any contests with this book? If so, would you be willing to share your most memorable experience?

SARA:

I entered Callum’s Compass in a contest just prior to receiving the contract offer from Mantle Rock. I won Runner-Up in Deep River Books Writer’s Contest 2017. The most memorable part about it was reading what the overall take from the judges was on the book: “Romance, mystery, adventure, and suspense are brilliantly intertwined in this deeply moving story.” It was the first time I’d gotten feedback like this from a stranger.

SHAREE:

Wow, that’s incredible feedback. I bet you were over the moon thrilled!

Writers are readers too so tell us what was the last book you read and what will you remember most about it?

SARA:

The last book I read was The Poison We Drink by Carol McClain. Her main character really touched me. She was a young woman struggling with alcoholism stemming from an abusive childhood. Though I had a fantastic childhood and wonderful family, I could still relate to her character’s feelings of inadequacy.

SHAREE:

I’ll have to add that to my TBR pile. One can never have a too large TBR.

Did you always want to be a writer?

SARA:

I have wanted to be a writer since I can remember, but it took me a lot of years to come up with the courage to try it.

SHAREE:

I can definitely relate to that. How long have you been writing?

SARA:

I wrote the first story I can remember when I was 4 or 5. I brought my mom a purple notebook and instructed her to write and I would draw the pictures (I didn’t know how to write yet).

SHAREE:

LOL. I love that you were able to delegate at such a young age. Where did you get your inspiration for Callum’s Compass?

SARA:

Callum’s Compass came from a lot of different places. Local legends of “black panthers” in the mountains near my home were the original sparking point. That developed into a more complex story involving a treasure hunt and a spiritual journey. My uncle used to do treasure hunts for us kids on family vacations. One year he even hid gold coins on the beach and we had to get through the clues in order to use the metal detector and find them. I will never forget that! In fact, Kat’s first official clue in Callum’s Compass used the very Bible verse my uncle used all those years ago, and it uses his method of “coding” too.

SHAREE:

I bet he is beyond proud of you! What a wonderful memory. What inspires you to write?

SARA:

I find inspiration in my faith, my family, and in nature.

SHAREE:

How does a typical writing day look for you?

SARA:

I get up, make coffee, feed whichever kids are awake (ha!), and go to the computer. I stay there as long as the kiddos or my day’s schedule will allow.

SHAREE:

I love a day that starts with coffee. Actually, everyday starts with coffee for me. LOL. What are you working on now?

SARA:

I am finishing up editing on book number two in the Faith, Hope, and Love series, Camp Hope, and will resume writing on book number three, Rarity Mountain, in January 2018.

SHAREE:

Outstanding! When you’re not writing what do you like to do?

SARA:

I love to read, get outside with my family, or simply curl up on the couch and watch a good who-done-it TV show.

SHAREE:

Pass the popcorn. I’m with you on the who-done-it. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

SARA:

All gross profits from book sales of Callum’s Compass will be donated to my upcoming mission trip to the Philippines in May 2018 (until our team’s goal is met). It is my first mission trip, and I would love to have your prayers! Three fellow church members, four members from another church, and I will be traveling there to work with a children’s camp for two weeks!

Connect with Sara:

• Website: saralfoust.com
• Newsletter sign up: http://eepurl.com/cfqP5H
• Email: sfoust25@hotmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaraLFoust/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sfoust25
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sfoust25/
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SaraFoustSaraLFoust
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saralfoust

Sara, thank you so much for being with us today and sharing a peek into your writing world. Friends, the buy links for Callum’s Compass are right here. And did you see that the proceeds ALL of them go toward Sara’s mission trip? This is huge! Blessings on your book, Callum’s Compass and every one hereafter.