Interview with Author Sarah Smith
Our next amazing Indie Author Spotlight is the author of the Denver Bashers series: Sarah Smith! Romance reader turned author, her stories bring so much joy to her readers. She spoke with us about the inspiration behind her stories, her advice to fellow indie authors, and what is next for her!
Sarah Smith is a copywriter-turned-author who wants to make the world a lovelier place, one kissing story at a time. Her love of romance began when she was eight and she discovered her auntie’s stash of romance novels. She’s been hooked ever since. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking, eating chocolate, and perfecting her lumpia recipe.
What made you want to be an author?
I've always loved reading and writing stories, ever since I was a little kid. Reading and writing always made me happy, and my biggest dream was to get to do it for a living. I feel so lucky to be able to do that :)
What was your inspiration for writing Fake as Puck?
All the hockey romance books I've read over the years! The first hockey romance I ever read was Pucked by Helena Hunting, and I loved it, and I wanted to some day write something as fun and wild as that book.
What made you want to write about hockey?
Seeing how popular it was in the romance genre always intrigued me. I'm not a sports fan though AT ALL. I don't care about any sports in real life, I don't play them. I just never had much of an interest in them. But I always wondered if I could write a sports romance. For the longest time, I was intimidated by the idea. But one day, I decided to say screw it and challenge myself by writing something that scared me. And to my total shock, I loved it. Writing hockey romance came so easily to me. And as soon as I finished writing Fake As Puck, I had an idea for the next book, and the one after that. And now it's a seven book series, I can't believe it!
If Fake As Puck were made into a movie, what actors would I want to play Sophie and Xander?
I'd LOVE Jacob Elordi to be Xander and Phoebe Dynevor as Sophie!
What do you hope that readers take away from your stories?
I hope that reading my stories gives readers joy. I know that's such a basic answer, but it's true. Real life is full of stress and sadness and upsetting things, and I want my books to be a fun distraction from all that. I want readers to be happier after reading one of my books. Knowing that my stories can be a pleasant escape from whatever is going on in their lives is the most rewarding feeling.
What is some advice that you’d give to aspiring authors who are thinking about indie publishing?
Read A LOT of books from the genre you want to write and publish. Pay attention to what readers of that genre want, and then give it to them. The more you give readers exactly what they want to read, the more love and support you'll see for your books. And find a way to connect with your readers. Whether that's social media or a newsletter, just make sure you have a way to communicate with them so you know how they feel about you and your books.
What's one writing rule you believe in and one you think is made to be broken?
One writing rule I believe in: a romance must ALWAYS have an HEA. Always. No matter what. I will die on that hill. One writing rule I think is made to be broken: there doesn't always need to be a third-act breakup in a romance. It's not always necessary, and sometimes it feels very forced and unnecessary.
What is the best way to support you as an indie author?
There are tons of ways to support me! You can read my books on KU or you can buy the ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon. If you want a signed paperback, you can order those directly from me. Just head to my IG @authorsarahs and click the link in my bio :) You can also leave reviews for my books on Amazon and Goodreads. They make SUCH an impact for me as an indie author.
What’s next for you?
The last book in my Denver Bashers hockey romance series just came out on Dec. 8! Camden's book! This hockey bad boy falls hard for his childhood best friend. You're going to go crazy for this marriage of convenience romance! It will be available in ebook, paperback, and FREE in KU. And then I'll be publishing book 1 of a brand new series in early 2026...a college hockey romance series! The Hollis U series! Book 1 is called...Cocky Mother Pucker! Keep an eye on my IG for more news about that!
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