First time novelist, E.A. Saraby is a teacher and a mother of three. Her debut novel, The Light of Pensieri (Lulu, 2006) centres around Elie, whose quest leads her into the Pensieri Mountains, where malignant spirits drive people to madness and despair.
In a recent interview, E.A. Saraby spoke about her writing.
What would you say are the biggest challenges that you face?
My biggest challenge is finding the time to write and being able to clear my mind enough to do so. I am a full-time teacher and mother to three small children. I have maybe one or two hours to myself during the day, and often that time is taken with preparing for the next day's class lessons. Often I'll get ideas as I stand in the shower or drive to work - I try to outline them as soon as I can, but often I'm interrupted before that's possible.
Luckily, my husband is a saint. When I get in 'the zone' and actually have some time, he will do what he can to take care of the kids and allow me an hour or two to write. He's often gone to bed alone on the weekend because I'll burn the midnight oil writing and sleep the next day, leaving him to fend for the kids again. He was quite glad when Pensieri was finished (as was I) because I could have weekend time with the kids again. I also carry a small journal with me to jot down ideas by hand (normally I write on a laptop), so if something comes to me when I'm on the go, at least I have a chance to catch it.
How many books have you written so far?
I've written several short stories and poems. Pensieri is my first full-length novel. I published it via Lulu in August of 2006.
Which aspects of the work that you put into the book did you find most difficult?
Article comments
1 - Earl
o my gosh! this is my math teacher!
she is hilarious! and omg she is also an artist! she showed us the pictures she drew for her characters in this book.. they were good.. i wonder how she finds time to draw, paint intricate desings on her walls (she made part of a wall in her house look like exposed bricks-->painted it by hand), write, AND grade geometry proofs.. haha.. she is awesome xD