What are some day jobs you have held, and how have they influenced your writing?

I move around a lot as an adult, which means picking up whatever jobs I find in each new community. Although I’m a trained wildlife biologist who has spent time doing field research, I have also been a substitute teacher, First Aid instructor, assistant to the Crown Prosecutor (similar to a District Attorney), tour guide operator, and hotel guest services agent, to name a few. This vast assortment of jobs allows me to draw on a variety of experiences when crafting a story or bringing a character to life. Whether my character has dirt-stained jeans and binoculars hanging around her neck, or she’s wearing a pantsuit and empowering an attentive crowd, I have the experience to fully immerse my characters into the world I’m creating for them.

What have you written so far?

Seeking Sasha is my first published novel, but I have three other novels in various stages of revisions and edits. I’ve had a dozen short stories published in various literary journals and collections, one of which earned third place in a nationwide writing contest, and I have other short stories and novel ideas burning inside me.

Did you independently or “self” publish, or did you go the “traditional” publishing route, and why?

I found a small press publisher who was excited to champion me and my work. It was important for me to find a traditional publisher rather than doing it all myself, as I don’t have time or knowledge to wrangle all the jobs on my own. Writing may be a solo endeavor, but getting a book published is a team effort. It was also important to me that my book be available in bookstores, and this is much more easily achieved with a publisher backing me. When I talk to bookstores to inquire about carrying my novel or setting up author signing events, I always hear a positive change in their voice when they learn that my book is published traditionally. There are a lot of benefits to self-publishing, but going the traditional route was right for me.

If you went the “traditional” publishing route, how did you get your book deal?

It took a lot of work. The publishing world is so subjective, and even if an agent or publisher loves your story, if it doesn’t fit with what they are currently trying to bring to readers, then it will be a pass. I built up my writing CV by getting short stories published, attending writing conferences, and growing my social media platforms. I queried consistently, and every rejection was fuel, bringing me one step closer to an acceptance. I had a couple of offers that I turned down because I needed the right fit for me and my book. Essentially, it all came down to tenacity, perseverance, patience, and ensuring I was submitting a quality piece that was thoroughly revised, edited, and beta-proofed.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I would tell aspiring authors to remember their WHY. Whether self-publishing or going the traditional route, getting a book published takes a lot of work and a ton of grit. It can be overwhelming at times, but if you go back to WHY you wrote this book and why you want to publish it, it will keep you grounded and fuel you to push through the challenging times, which makes the successes along the way that much more delicious.

Can you share a little bit about your latest book?

My debut novel, Seeking Sasha, is a psychological suspense. The story follows Sasha, a woman who believes she is better off being anyone but herself. For ten years, she has been bouncing between towns, changing names and changing jobs, but her fabricated lifestyle dissolves when she comes face to face with Cole, her best friend from childhood and who is now a police officer. Cole is desperate to help Sasha ground herself and build a stable life, but facing her past sends Sasha spiraling down a dangerous path where her identities collide.

Early readers have loved peeling back the layers of who Sasha really is—the perfect fodder for great book club conversations. While writing Seeking Sasha, I had a lot of fun adding tension between Sasha and Cole, as well as within Sasha’s own struggles. The story has a little bit of romance and a lot of page-turning suspense.

What made you decide to sit down and start writing this book?

I was on a solo writing trip, working on another novel. One evening, while writing at the hotel bar, a man sat down next to me and started chatting me up. He asked my name, my profession, and what I was working on, and it dawned on me—I could tell him anything I wanted about myself, and he would be none-the-wiser. I told him only truths, but this moment was the inspiration for a character who uses false names and fake backstories. As I also wanted to showcase the personal intricacies of police work (my husband was an officer at the time I was drafting), I introduced a police perspective to the story.

Tell us more about your main character. What inspired you to develop this character?

Sasha has a ton of layers. Needing to break away from her traumatic childhood, she left town with a plan to reinvent herself, but she learned that doing so was easier said than done. When her fake life crumbles, she moves to a new town, adopts a new name, and tries again. This cycle becomes her reality until she runs into Cole, her best friend growing up. As Sasha and Cole begin to put their friendship back together, Sasha is forced to face her past and who she truly is.

Sasha’s character bloomed organically as I crafted my first draft, and her various personas introduced themselves to me as I discovered more about Sasha. I think a lot of people feel overwhelmed at times and may joke about running away and starting a whole new life. As this mindset is relatable to a lot of people, I built a character around this concept, only pushing Sasha’s fractured and fabricated lifestyle to the extreme.

What is your next project?

I recently wrote the first draft of a sequel to Seeking Sasha and handed it over to my alpha reader. He read it in one sitting, staying up until 3am to finish it, and he was a teary mess by the end. The story needs some revisions and edits, but it will hit bookshelves in time.

I’m also currently revising a novel called The Jackal that I wrote shortly after Seeking Sasha was drafted. Although a standalone novel, it takes place in the same universe. I hope to put the finishing touches on The Jackal within the next few months, and then I’ll work towards getting it published.

Tell us something unique about you.

A big regret in my life is when I flubbed an international grass identification competition.

In university, I was on the Range Team, and we traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to compete in grass and forb identification competitions. I was at the top of my team, I knew every floret, awn, and scientific name, but the time pressure in the moment got to my head, and I mistakenly skipped one-third of the multiple-choice exam. I still got a decent score despite not answering so many questions, but my chances for overall victory died out, as did scholarship money and the praise of grass enthusiasts everywhere.

But hey, it makes for a great story! 

Want to learn more about Laura Frost?

Official Author Site | Seeking Sasha