Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara A. Freites.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been writing short stories and poems for as long as I can remember, but my first book “Rise of Midnight” is my first published work. I wrote this book when I was 17, and worked off and on on it, sometimes setting it aside for long periods of time, for many years before I really got serious about doing something with it. I began querying literary agents and publishers in my early 30’s. After many rejection letters and redirections, I finally decided to self publish. Self publishing taught me a lot, one of the things was that I was not good at promoting and marketing, and my books, (2 at that time) where going nowhere. That’s why, 3 years later, when my book was picked up by a traditional mid-sized publisher, I was ready for that change. Thankfully, with my publisher backing me, I’ve been able to do signings all around town and some out of town. And now, my books are in book stores, more places online, are reaching a larger audience, and I have 3 more books planned in the series.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, it has been a winding road of uncertainty and unclear direction, like a leaf blowing across the yard, there was no set path that I could see. As I mentioned, I faced many rejections from publishers and literary agents my first few years of querying and it was really discouraging. There were times I thought that maybe I just wasn’t a good writer or storyteller. But I’m glad that I didn’t give up, because my final query, just when I had thought “I think I’m done trying” got me into my first publishing house!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I cosplay (mostly for children’s hospitals and charity events now a days), play violin and piano, act in short films, commercials and fan films on Youtube, but my passion is writing. I think that exploring multiple avenues of art is what sets me apart. When I want to try something new, I set my mind to do it and go. Most of these are things I used to do as a child (in a not so professional way, of course) but I’m happy to say that I stuck with most of these things and continued to grow in each. I am most proud of my book series, especially now that I’ve created it to be an ongoing series, and there are so many more opportunities for me. I’m very excited for the future!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I think just remembering to do what you love, and do it for yourself first and foremost. Also never be scared of a challenge, and never be scared to try new things or to learn something new. The one thing I wish I had known starting out was to trust the process and be patient, and don’t get down when things don’t seem to be going anywhere. I spent so much time in the beginning dwelling on what wasn’t going right, that I didn’t give myself time to hope for the future or to try harder.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://AuthorSaraAFreites.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.a.f.ire_art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAFire.Art86
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfHGCugRiq93qRtBKRew7HGWHPHvEJXy1
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Sara.A.Freites
