Debut Author Interviews

S.A. Harazin is the author of Blood Brothers (Delacorte/Random House, Summer 2007)

• S.A. Harazin on...Other Careers
• S.A. Harazin on...After-Sale Revisions
• S.A. Harazin on...Agents
• S.A. Harazin on...Prior Research
• S.A. Harazin on...Promotion
• S.A. Harazin on...Ideas
• S.A. Harazin on...Training
• S.A. Harazin on...Why Kids?
• S.A. Harazin on...Setting
• S.A. Harazin on...Influential Books
• S.A. Harazin on...Ideal Reader
• S.A. Harazin on...Character and Self
• S.A. Harazin on...What's Next?
• S.A. Harazin on...Outlines
• S.A. Harazin on...Impact on Readers
• S.A. Harazin on...Why Write?
• S.A. Harazin on...Favorite Teacher
• S.A. Harazin on...Book Memory
• S.A. Harazin on...Website
• S.A. Harazin on...Favorite Book
• S.A. Harazin on...First Novels
• S.A. Harazin on...Character's Conflict
• S.A. Harazin on...Favorite Bookstore

What career would you pursue if you weren’t a writer?

When I was a teen my mother would tell me I needed a day job so I’d always be able to support myself. I went to nursing school and then worked many years as a RN. I loved my job. I am glad I pursued that career first. If I had not done that I would not have the first hand experience to write what I write.

How much revision did you do AFTER you sold your book to your publisher?

I did one round of revisions for my agent. The revisions for my editor were intensive. He asked me to delete a character, deepen other characters, and add some flashbacks. He also asked for a tone change in one section of the manuscript and for a couple of plot twists. He asked for different scenes at the end. I reshaped the manuscript. I did two large revisions and a couple of smaller revisions. My editor provided an enormous amount of insight and guidance. The book became more because of him.

Is an agent useful or necessary for a first-time author?

My agent sold BLOOD BROTHERS. I am not a submitter. I’ve had friends who would tease me—before I became agented—that an editor was not going to come to my house and go through my files.

I think it’s good to have an agent. He does more than submit a manuscript and negotiate a contract. After my editor left to pursue another career, my agent provided support and reassurance.

How much research and/or meditation about your subject did you do before you began your first draft?

I did no research on BLOOD BROTHERS before writing the first draft. I was writing what I know.

During the revision process I did contact various experts in law enforcement, medicine, and biking cross country to verify some things.

What is your plan to get the word out to the public about your book?

I hope to provide ARCs—or copies of my book—to librarians, reviewers, and booksellers who are interested. (Feel free to let me know if you want to be added to a list.)

Where did you get the idea for your book?

The idea, characters, and plot of BLOOD BROTHERS grew over many years. When I finally decided to write the story, it took only a few days.

When I was fourteen I volunteered at the local hospital where my mom worked as a nurse. I was put to work passing out juice and fresh water. Sometimes I’d make charts for the nurses or change the linen on beds or run for supplies during an emergency. I was eager to do anything I was asked to do. I loved every minute.

After a year I started getting paid. Along with a paycheck came other duties. I would be assigned to check vital signs, give baths, change beds, and transport patients. I once delivered a baby by accident. I also helped out in codes.

BLOOD BROTHERS is a work of fiction.

What writing training have you had?

I’ve had no formal education in writing or literature. When I finished high school my mother encouraged me to go to nursing school so I would always have a day job. Plus I’d already had a lot of experience working in the hospital, and I received a scholarship from there.

I have always been a reader and writer. Most of what I write is loosely based on life experience.

Why write for children and teens?

I write for teens because I feel like I know them better than I know adults. I have three teens, and they have friends over all the time. They ask me questions like, “Are you still revising that same book?” And sometimes (not my teens) they ask to read what I’m writing and give me ideas. I find teens interesting. They make me smile, but sometimes they make me worry a lot. I love it when they give me advice. I feel like I’m stuck between fourteen and nineteen years old.

Where is your novel set, and why there?

Blood Brothers is set in Georgia in a fictional town. The protagonist bikes everywhere and the miles begin to wear him down. He also works in a hospital which gives focus to his dream of becoming a doctor. Because of this, I felt like it was important to establish setting as character.

What books had an impact on you when you were growing up?

In elementary school I read the encyclopedia mostly. I didn’t have easy access to childrens’ books. I did write many poems and stories. I also wrote stories as letters to my mother. Later on I read adult books. I discovered how wonderful childrens’ books are after I had kids and would read to them.

If you had an ideal reader, who would that be and why?

I am not sure I have an ideal reader. I can see anybody reading BLOOD BROTHERS who wants to know a character whose experiences and life are different from most teens. Perhaps somebody will read the story who wonders, what do you do when your life starts to shatter? However, there are both sad scenes and happy scenes in the book—it is not gloom and doom, but it is a story about a character who yearns for what he cannot have.

Others who may be ideal readers are those interested in cross country biking, mysteries, and hospital drama.

Is your main character like yourself?

Any resemblance of my main character to me (or anyone) is purely coincidental. He would never do what I wanted him to do—or what I would have done—when faced with challenges.

What’s next after your debut novel?

I have a contract for book #2 from Delacorte, but it’s too early in my process to talk about. I am also considering writing a sequel to Blood Brothers from the POV of another character.

Do you outline before writing?

I outline, but I end up deleting it soon after I start writing.

I outline after I finish the first draft.

What should readers get from your book?

I hope the reader gets the “aha!” feeling when they read the last sentence.

Why do you write?

I think I write because I have a story I want to tell, and it is something I feel passionate about. Writing also helps me to understand the world. I feel good when I write.

Describe your favorite teacher when you were your protagonist’s age.

I’m sure I had many good teachers in high school, but I never paid attention in class. I should have, I know.

But I had a favorite teacher. He did not work at the high school. He was a doctor at the hospital where I worked, and I was passionate about my job. I wanted to learn. He taught me all kinds of interesting things about emergency medicine and surgery. He was a hero to me. I’d seen him save lives when the situation seemed hopeless.

What is your earliest book memory?

I was sitting at my desk at school. I don’t remember what grade I was in. The teacher was reading aloud from a Dick and Jane book. She said, “See Dick run. See Jane run.” Or something like that. I spaced out. I woke up in time to take a test on Dick and Jane. I did badly.

The main reason I remember this is because there was a new girl in our class that day. She was fourteen years old and we were much younger. She did as badly on the test as I did. I felt sorry for her.

Our class would go to the library every two weeks. This girl would check out a book called “The Cat that Went to College” over and over again. I always wondered why. I thought she was the most interesting and nicest person I had ever met.

Do you have a website for your book? How did you handle setting it up?

I have a basic author website at www.saharazin.com. I built it myself and got input on it from my pals on Verla Kay’s message board. I appreciate any feedback anyone wants to give. Building a website was a big accomplishment (and headache) for me.

What was your favorite book when you were your protagonist’s age?

My protagonist is almost eighteen-years old. When I was his age, I did not read much. I went to school, got out at three, and went to work. I’d get off at eleven. I usually worked on weekends and studied. (At one time around that age I had three part-time jobs.)

But I have made up for my non-reading back then. I probably read a book a day now, and have dozens of favorite books.

Was this the first full-length novel you wrote, or rather the first that you sold?

No. I had written about a half dozen novel length manuscripts. I consider them my practice novels. I do have one that may have some potential, but it needs major work.

The first time I shared a draft of BLOOD BROTHERS (the novel that sold) with a former critique partner, she called me immediately after reading and shouted, “This is the one!” That made me feel great.

What drew you to the conflict you created for your main character?

The conflict seemed to arise naturally from the character and the setting. The story is set mostly in a hospital so at any time of day or night something bad is happening, and my character is impacted by what is going on around him. He tends to screw up a lot. At other times he is with his friends. He tries to fit in, but he cannot.

I like writing about ordinary characters thrown into extraordinary situations. How they react and deal with the conflict usually comes as a surprise to me. I also discover something about myself or realize something I should have known but didn’t until my character had the experience.

Do you have a favorite bookstore?

It is hard to choose a favorite bookstore.

But today I am especially fond of The Mystery Bookstore in LA. http://www.mystery-bookstore.com/blog/

My book is a pick of the month. That means a lot to me.