60 seconds with Sara Kate

Imagine living next to a serial killer and not knowing it. Well, that's what thriller author, Sara Kate did when she wrote her recent novel.

In 60 seconds, Sara discusses her writing journey, why she writes stalker thrillers and the treacherous journey she makes herself go down to step into the stalker's mind.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am from South Florida and have been writing thriller and mystery books for four years now, with five books published.

How did you first become interested in writing thrillers?

The thriller genre has always been my top choice when it comes to reading, and watching television shows and movies too. I began reading fictional thrillers at the early age of eleven and never stopped. So when I decided to choose a career in writing, I went with what I know and am most comfortable creating.

Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to explore in your books?

I like to explore themes of stalking and survival. I like writing my characters into crazy and terrifying situations but realistic ones, so they can fight their way out of them.

What is it about stalking and survival that strike you?

I write about stalking and survival because both of these can happen in the real world to anyone. Falling victim to stalking in general is a terrifying situation to be in and I aim to bring awareness not only to how easy it is for people to fall victim to stalking, but also to how they can survive it.  

I want my readers to enjoy solving the mystery and to also take note of how my characters defend themselves in dire situations.

Are there any specific scenes in your novels that were challenging to write?

There were a few challenging scenes to write in He Thought I Was His – a fast paced stalker thriller. During the stalker point of view chapters, I had to take myself to a place that I'd never want to be in reality.

Without giving away any spoilers, I can say that there were certain uncomfortable scenes where I had to bring myself to a dark place, putting myself in the stalker's mind - one that's deranged and delusional.

It was a challenge to try and understand the stalker’s thought process, asking myself questions like – why does he feel this way about the main character? What would make him think that she is the only one for him? What happened in his childhood that made him so delusional and such a threat?

Are any of the characters in your books based on people you know or have met?

None of my characters are based on people that I know, but I have taken inspiration from people I’ve met in the past. I include elements of their personalities in my characters. 

Have you ever done anything that could be considered strange in order to write a book?

Honestly, nothing strange yet, but we never know what the future holds! 

What does your typical day look like?

My daily routine varies. Since I live in an RV, my surroundings are constantly changing. Sometimes, I sit outside and write on my laptop in the morning and other times, I become a recluse and sit at my desk all day!  

Do you set daily word goals? If so, how do you go about meeting them?

I hate setting word goals and word counts when I write! If I do, I become fixated on how many words I am writing instead of the actual story. By the time I am done with the first and second draft of my manuscript, I then look at the word count and decide on whether I need to add more to the story or cut unimportant scenes to reduce my word count.

Let’s talk about your latest book. What inspired the storyline, and what can readers expect from it?

The Woman I Want Dead launched on June 18th, 2024. It is the sequel to the novel, The Woman I Befriended - which is currently free to download on Amazon until 21/06/2024.

It wasn't until I ended book one with a cliffhanger that I realised this would become a two-book series. When the MC, Ellie decides that her neighbour is a serial killer specifically targeting males, she explores her theory further which leads into a cat and mouse game with a small-town serial killer. 

The idea came from a crazy thought of mine years ago when I was living in an apartment on a busy street, while I was working at home one day. I thought, “imagine living next to a killer and never knowing it.”  

So I took my imagination and brought it to life on paper, creating The Woman series.

And finally, where can readers find your books?

You can find my books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and via my website.

About Sara Kate

Sara Kate started her writing career as a scriptwriter for promotional videos and short films. 

Years later, she wrote her first mystery novel and continues to write full-time from her RV.

Aside from writing, she enjoys rollerblading, photography, painting, and anything thriller/mystery related.

The Woman I Want Dead is available to order now.

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