Interview with Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, authors of Sanctuary Bay

Tell us a little bit about your new release, Sanctuary Bay.
With Sanctuary Bay we threw some of our favorite story elements (elite prep schools, secret societies, bad boys, great friends) and some of our favorite genres (suspense, romance, sci-fi) into our brain blender. We hope we came up with a wild ride that will keep readers guessing.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

MM: I’ve been a reader as long as I can remember, and being a reader is what led me first to a career as an editor (where I could read as a job) and then to becoming a writer.

LJB: What she said! It’s pretty much the same story for me.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

MM: Those moments where everything is clicking and I can write without pausing. The ones where I sit and stare at the computer screen are more common, so I really appreciate the ones where the writing flows.

LJB: My favorite thing about writing is reading what I’ve written! The process itself is hard, so I like the feeling of accomplishment I get when it’s done and I have something to show for it.

What’s your favorite thing about writing a book alongside another author?

We were friends before we became writing partners, and writing gives us an excuse to spend hours talking on the phone and call it work. It makes the whole process more fun. And it’s also easier–two brains really do make a difference when you’re trying to work out a plot snag or develop a character. We’ve both worked as editors (we met working at the same company), so by teaming up, we each gain an editor as well as a co-author.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

MM: Lounging around reading, binge-watching a TV series, or having a movie marathon.

LJB: Sleeping!

Say you now host a literary-themed talk show (congrats). Who would be your first guest? What would you ask that person?

Since there are two of us, we’d like to have two guests. And since we often write weird stuff, we don’t care that one of them is dead. We’d like to sit down with Jane Austen (Laura had a cat named Pemberley) and Stephen King (Melinda saw “Carrie: The Musical”) and just see what they’d have to say to each other. We think they’d really hit it off.

What scene in Sanctuary Bay was your favorite to write?

Really all of the scenes between Ethan and Sarah—we like the way they verbally spar. Also the scene where Nate tells Sarah to get the chip off her shoulder. We have others, but they’re huge spoilers!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

IMM: Not that I live by, but that I write by. Laura has said “First Draft!” to me so many times when I’m agonizing over whether something is working or not, that it is now my writing motto. It’s a lot easier to take something mediocre—or totally bad—and rework it, than to make yourself crazy trying to make it perfect the first time.

LJB: I don’t remember saying that so often, but I like it. I think I’ll use that as my motto, too!

Laura and Melinda are the authors of the new book Sanctuary Bay.

Connect with Laura and Melinda
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