PM: If you couldn’t be a writer, what career path do you think you’d choose to be on?

SM: I actually have a degree in elementary education, so I’d probably be a teacher if I wasn’t a stay-at-home mom/writer.

PM: Tell us what you enjoy doing the most when you are not writing or reading?

SM: Sleeping? Is that an option? Haha. Actually, I really like to go hiking and any time I can escape into the mountains I take it.

PM:  I love that answer – sleeping! I could use more of it myself, hahaha! I am sorry to say out of all your books I have only read All Of You so far…..but I absolutely loved it, and actually have a few questions about your writing of it! I imagine there was a great deal of research in regards to injured and wounded military personal….how difficult was that for you?

SM: That first chapter probably took me the longest to write out of everything I’ve ever written. Mostly because it is really hard to create a plausible scenario where a fighter pilot will have two limbs amputated! Only after talking to an Air Force pilot and a sailor who worked on aircraft carriers for over thirty years did we come up with something that was remotely possible in real life. I also talked to a physical therapist about recovery and prosthetic as well as other internet and library searches. My husband is also in the Navy so whenever I needed a general military question answered, he was a quick one I could go to.

PM: If we were to open you your refrigerator right now, what would we find in it?

SM: Haha, it’s actually pretty empty right now. I just cleaned it out yesterday. But there is like 4 different types of milk– 2%, soy, chocolate, and buttermilk. As well as heavy cream, half and half, and hazelnut creamer. It’s a bit ridiculous, I know.

PM: I was so taken with the historical aspect to the story, and you blended the two seamlessly, how did that work, if you don’t mind me asking, did you have the contemporary story in mind and then worked in the historical aspect, or vice versa?

SM:  I’m a pantser so I didn’t have the whole thing plotted out. I knew that an airplane would connect the two stories, but it wasn’t until I was writing the last three quarters of the book that it all came together. I just wrote it linearly, chapter by chapter, and saw how the story unfolded.

PM: What was your most beloved book to read as a child?

SM: This is really hard! Without calling my mom and asking her which book I requested to be read the most I’m going to have to say it might have been Goofy’s Big Race. I had a collection of Disney books, and I remember reading that one quite a lot.

PM: What is one thing about you that your readers would be shocked to know?

SM: Ummm…is it really bad that I can’t think of anything? I feel like I need to go out and do something shocking right now, but I can’t even think of what that would be! What’s something shocking you’ve done?

Wait…

Is it shocking that I don’t like Hallmark movies? Like, literally can’t stand them. All my friends are all gushing about all the Christmas Hallmark movies airing and I’m off in my little corner making gagging noises at them. Okay, not literally, but you know what I mean. You guys keep your Hallmark, I’ll be over here rewatching White Christmas and every rendition of Miracle on 34th Street for the millionth time.

PM:   Whoa, nice one, turning it around on me, lol! Okay, I will accept that challenge – I am a recovering Coke addict, sigh…I have not had a carbonated beverage since 10/29/2009! And for the record, not watching Hallmark movies is kind of my thing too, lol!

What’s your favorite song?

SM: Oh, this is a hard one. It changes as songs have a way of speaking to you at different times and in different ways. Currently, I am pretty in love with Lauren Daigle’s “You Say”.

PM:  Oh my, I am loving that song so much too!

How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?

SM: Signing up for my author newsletter is probably the best way, plus everyone who signs up gets a free Christmas novella. Readers can sign up at www.sarahmonzonwrites.com/subscribe.

PM: Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?

SM: If tea, then herbal with honey, but I drink more coffee than tea. With lots of flavored creamer.