Tell Me Your Ways...with Sarah Fox

Cozy Mystery author interview and a revision update from me

I reached out to Sarah after loving her book Wine and Punishment. On top of being a wonderful writer—if you like cozy mysteries her literary pub series is a must read— she’s also the nicest human. I wrote a cozy mystery about a yoga instructor at a resort in Puerto Rico and had some full requests but not what I’d hoped and was wondering if I should get the book professionally edited. Sarah was so lovely. She offered to read my first five chapters and give me feedback. She told me this which I still think of often, “Practice and perseverance are two of the most important ingredients for success in this business.”

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why do you find this the best way for you to write?

I fall somewhere in between. I need to have some direction, so I figure out the basics before I start to write. I like to know the killer, the victim, the motive, and the suspects. However, I typically only outline a couple of chapters at a time because I can’t see all the details too far ahead or how everything will ultimately fit together. That also allows the characters and story to surprise me sometimes. And even though I like to have all the basics figured out before I start writing, I occasionally change my mind about things as I’m writing the book.

What does your drafting process look like? Do you write scenes in order?

Yes, I’m a very linear writer. I write scenes in order and I like to keep plowing ahead, leaving revisions until I’m finished with the first draft. If I realize that I need to change something that I’ve already written, I’ll leave a comment with track changes and keep moving forward. That allows me to get through the first draft as quickly as possible. If I keep stopping to go back and change things, that interrupts my flow. 

Please walk us through a little of what your revision process looks like?

I like to do three rounds of editing before sending a manuscript to my editor. For the first round, I print the story out and edit on paper. For all subsequent rounds of editing, I use my Kindle. I read the manuscript again after making the changes requested by my editor, and after I get the manuscript back from the copy editor, I get my Kindle to read it out loud to me.

How do you know when your story is done?

Once I’m able to read through the manuscript without finding plot holes or inconsistencies, and once my Kindle has read it out loud to me so I can catch the sneaky little mistakes that have previously avoided detection, it’s time to let it go.

How many beta readers do you typically have for a project? Does anyone read all the versions?

I typically only have one or two beta readers for a project. I’m the only person who reads all of the versions. I’m not sure anyone other than me would want to read any of my manuscripts six times!

What are you currently working on now?

I just returned the second Magical Menagerie Mystery to my publisher after making the changes my editor requested. That book is called Dead Men Wag No Tails and it will be out in early 2025. I’ll soon be starting the third book in that series. Right at the moment, however, I’m working on a proposal for a romcom/mystery mashup that I’m having lots of fun with. I’m hoping that project will be out on submission in the next week or two.

Do you have a favorite book on the craft of writing?

I don’t read a whole lot of books on the craft of writing, but one that I read and enjoyed is How to Write Killer Fiction by Carolyn Wheat.

Anything else you’d like to share? Where can we find you?

You can find me on Instagram (@the_write_fox) and Facebook (facebook.com/authorsarahfox). I also have a website (www.authorsarahfox.com) and a newsletter that you can sign up for by going to the “About” section on my website.

Thank you for the great questions!

Revision Update

I finished my eighth draft of my rom com set in Scotland and got feedback from Parker Peevyhouse (she’s Emily Henry’s crit partner and has a great Substack) on the first twenty pages and my query letter. My query needs work, but the pages are in good shape! Woohoo!

After all that revising, my original plan was to move to revising my rom com inspired by Before Sunrise, but I need a drafting break. So I’m joining some friends for Jami Attenberg’s 1,000 words of summer challenge. I’m so excited. It’s going to be a summer road trip for my brain. Let me know if you’re doing it too!