Fairy Tales for All Ages: Sarah Arthur on her new book Once a Castle

In this delightful conversation, Sarah Arthur discusses her journey as a writer, the themes explored in her Carrick Hall series, and the influence of classic authors like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien on her work. She delves into the creative process behind her books, the importance of world-building, and the transition from nonfiction to fiction writing. Sarah also shares insights on writing in community, the role of reader feedback, and her connection to Madeleine L'Engle's legacy. As she prepares for the release of her third book, she reflects on the interconnectedness of stories and the importance of acknowledging our shared humanity.

Sarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker and the bestselling author of a dozen books for teens and adults, including Once a Castle, Book 2 of the Carrick Hall Novels (WaterBrook; on sale 2/11/25) the bestselling and the Christy Award-nominated Once a Queen, Book 1 of the Carrick Hall Novels. Among other nerdy adventures, she has served as preliminary fiction judge for the Christianity Today Book Awards, was a founding board member of the annual C. S. Lewis Festival in Northern Michigan, and codirects the Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreats. Sarah worked with young people in various settings for more than 20 years. She lives in Michigan with her husband Tom and their preteen/teen sons, whose feedback on her fiction both harrows and delights her soul. Connect with Sarah at SarahArthur.com and @HolyDreaming on social media.

Links:

Saraharthur.com

https://www.lenglewritingretreats.com/

https://www.cslewisfestival.org/

https://bookshop.org/shop/sarah-arthur

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sarah Arthur and Her New Book

04:42 The Creative Process Behind the Carrick Hall Series

07:36 Exploring Themes of Loss and Faith in Once a Queen

10:43 Character Development and Multi-Generational Relationships

13:38 Influences of Lewis and Tolkien on Sarah's Writing

16:41 World Building in the Carrick Hall Series

19:45 Navigating Backstory and Reader Engagement

28:01 Character Insights and Truth-Telling

29:38 The Writing Process: Fiction vs Nonfiction

31:49 The Importance of Reader Feedback

33:38 Writing in Community: The Role of Writers' Groups

36:30 The Impact of Madeleine L'Engle on Writing

38:17 The Evolution of Writing Retreats

41:42 C.S. Lewis Festival: Community and Literature

42:38 Upcoming Works and Themes in Writing