Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah McKnight.
Hi Sarah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved stories, and I always had a book in my hand – whether it was for a five minute car ride or waiting in a restaurant. Naturally, I wanted to tell my own stories, too. Even in early elementary school, I was stapling pieces of printer paper together and writing and illustrating my own books (usually Spongebob stories or something to do with mermaids). A lot of teachers throughout my life have encouraged my writing, and my parents and my husband have always been encouraging, so when I decided to give self-publishing a shot, I felt supported and comfortable with my decision. It’s worked out great for me in the long run. I’ve written books I’m extremely proud of, won several awards, and I’ve gotten to meet so many incredible authors and readers along the way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things haven’t always been easy. Self-doubt is the biggest obstacle for sure, and imposter syndrome is my own worst enemy. What if my book is terrible? What if my writing is awful and my work should never see the light of day? I always hold my breath waiting for those first reviews to come in. Aside from the internal struggles, figuring out the world of self-publishing and learning how to market for myself has been extremely difficult. As an introvert, I have a hard time pushing my books out into the ether and talking them up to potential readers, but I feel like I’m getting the hang of it now.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write in a variety of genres including horror, contemporary young adult, new adult romance, and romtansy. A big reason that I chose self-publishing is so that I can write whatever I want without feeling like I need to assign myself to a specific genre for life. I write what I want to read, and I like variety. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I’d say my book Carousel is the one I’m most proud of. It’s a wild, twisted thrill ride with a lot of heart under the surface, and the main character is a lot like me.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
For my specific field, the best thing I did for myself was joining writer groups – critique groups specifically. You get honest feedback from fellow authors, a lot of whom are a lot more experienced than you, and being a part of these groups has elevated my writing so much just in a few short years.
In terms of networking, I’m still figuring that part out. Social media seems to be the best route to go, and I find that being my authentic self online is the best way to engage with other authors and potential readers. I don’t like to be heavy-handed with marketing. Instead, I post about my daily life. I share pictures of my cats and updates on navigating motherhood, as well as balancing writing with being a new mom and daily word count goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/sarahmcknightwrites
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmcknightwrites/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093359683254
- Twitter: https://x.com/mcknight_writes
