An Interview with Sarah G. Levine
A teacher by training, I now write stories about women of all shapes and sizes finding love and figuring out life.
Originally from a small seaside town in Massachusetts, I live in Brooklyn, NY with my wife, where I tend to many houseplants and dream of the ocean.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
It took a bit of time to feel out the title for this book. I knew it would start with ‘It’s’ because this story exists in the same world as my second novel It’s Kind of a Bad Idea. This book is a haters-to-lovers story, so I thought I’d play that up in the title.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I was an English teacher for seven years before I began writing. But way before that, I briefly worked in PR for luxury brands like Wacoal and Bacardi. Needless to say, it wasn’t a great fit for me.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
My mother is a writer, and she is definitely a big part of why I began writing. She used to read me her stories at bedtime when I was growing up.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I love to write in a local coffee shop in my neighborhood in Brooklyn or curled up in an armchair in my living room. Basically, anywhere but at my desk.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
I would tell my past self to write the book you want to read and to write for yourself above all else. Don’t feel ashamed about wanting to write romance just because it’s not viewed as ‘real literature.’ There’s so much to explore about people and life through the ways you can make them fall in love.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
For this novel, I hope people see that you don’t have to wait to be a perfect version of yourself to be worthy of love.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.