Sarah’s Writing Journey

Hello! I’m Sarah Louise Smith, and I many things, including co-founder of J&S Romance, as well as a Romance Author (and reader).

I get big inspiration when I travel. Here I am in Yosemite, California (which is sure to feature in a future novel!)

My writing journey started wayyyy back before I can even remember; I’ve always loved books and wrote stories even as a child. In my late teens and early 20’s I was determined that one day I’d become a published author, but I had a BIG problem: I was great at starting novels, but I’d write about 10,000 words and then never finish and just start something new.

In 2012, my husband bought me a laptop (it was shiny and new AND a beautiful pale pink). He wrote me a note that said: You may only accept this laptop on the condition that you write a complete novel on it (yes, I know, he’s a keeper ♥).

So, I set to it and rose to the challenge writing my first novel: Amy & Zach, and sent it off to a variety of agents and publishers. I got 12 rejection letters (the same number as JK Rowling, apparently) and then got an offer from a small, growing independent publisher. I was over the moon that someone thought my writing was good enough to publish, and boosted by this confidence, I continued writing regularly. I became one of their best-selling authors, with my books selling tens of thousands of copies.

I have since parted ways with that publisher, however I’m still so grateful to them for giving me that initial confidence - and, vitally, they enabled me to meet my amazing, talented, fabulous friend Jo. Read more about our story, and how we came to start J&S Romance, here >

I wrote my first six novels fairly close together, but I found myself lacking inspiration during the pandemic. The day job (running a consultancy business) kept me very busy. In 2022, I moved house, and used that as an excuse to ‘put off’ writing, and only really dipped in and out.

By 2023, I was desperate to start writing again; it’s what brings me joy, fulfilment and lifts my soul into that passionate flow state. So, encouraged by many lovely friends, family and readers, and especially by Jo, I got back to work. It felt amazing to be back!

My new novel Finding Marianne will be published on 8 May 2024, and I can’t wait to share it with all the readers that have stuck with me - and of course new ones too!

Watch this space for more on Marianne, and what her story is all about.

Thanks for reading. Have a fabulous day.

Namaste,

Sarah x