Sarah Hawley is an author of romance and fantasy novels. She was a winner of RevPit 2018, and her short stories and satirical articles have been published by Hooked, Slackjaw, The Belladonna Comedy, and Points in Case. She co-hosted the Wicked Wallflowers Club podcast about romance fiction, which was featured on Entertainment Weekly’s “Must List” as “a compelling reminder of why the oft-dismissed genre is a real force in cultural conversations about consent and desire.”
Want to keep up on all things Sarah, then check out her website or follow her on Twitter or Instagram.
Read our review for A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating A Demon here.
What’s the strangest thing you searched for on the internet for your novel?
What a great question! With my fantasy novels it’s usually some gruesome way to murder people, but being a rom com, A WITCH’S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING A DEMON is light on the murder. Researching historical figures who might have made a soul bargain with a demon was interesting—I loved getting to put an homage to Olga of Kiev on the page. I also spent a lot of time on the r/raisedbynarcissists and r/JustNoMIL subreddits reading stories of people with
narcissistic parents like Mariel’s mother. I love what a wide variety of information authors get to learn—I just finished drafting book 3 and had to research famous experimental theatrical performances and how to run for mayor.
What book (or author) made you fall in love with the romance genre?
Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning! I grew up reading sci-fi and fantasy, so it makes sense the book to get me hooked would be a time travel Highlander romance. Her voice is so fun, and the premise drew me in. I’ve since read a bajillion more romances and everything KMM has written.
What is your favourite trope? Why?
Enemies to lovers! The tension, stakes, and passion are inherently high, and there’s something delicious about two people on opposite sides of a conflict struggling not to fall in love with each other. You can’t have an enemy without respecting them in some way—otherwise it’s just a person you don’t like—so it’s also a trope based in fierce equality. The moment where the characters snap and finally kiss—ideally in the middle of a fight—is unmatched.
It’s the morning after, and a lover is making your main character the perfect breakfast in bed. What is it?
Mariel Spark loves a plate of bacon, eggs, and toast in the morning. Ozroth the Ruthless has led a lonely life and would be surprised and touched to receive any breakfast at all. (Don’t worry, Mariel feeds him plenty of nice meals, including homemade cinnamon rolls to match his secretly soft heart, and he cooks bacon for her whenever she wants.)
What book are you reading currently?
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn and Do Your Worst by Rosie Danan! Both are fabulous.
The rapid fire question – Ice cream or pizza?
Pizza! I adore pizza. The dream would be pepperoni, maybe some sausage and bacon, and oodles of extra cheese. Yum.