sarah j. maas
In Search of the Write Space: Sarah J. Maas
Sep 19, 2012
Sarah J. Maas was born and raised in New York City, but after graduating from Hamilton College in 2008, she moved to Southern California. She’s always been just a *tad* obsessed with fairy-tales and folklore, though she’d MUCH rather be the one slaying the dragon (instead of the damsel in distress). When she was sixteen, she discovered FictionPress.com, and shared a (very rough) draft of Throne of Glass, a YA epic fantasy retelling of Cinderella. For the six years Throne of Glass was on FictionPress (at the time called Queen of Glass), it developed a massive fanbase–which later gave her the confidence to attempt getting it published.
Many rewrites and revisions later, Throne of Glass is less a Cinderella retelling and more of an original epic fantasy, and it was published by Bloomsbury Children’s in August 2012. Over the years, she’s written several other novels (most of them fairy-tale retellings), and when she’s not busy writing, she can be found geeking out over things like Han Solo, gaudy nail polish, and ballet.
A Note From Meg
Welcome to my brand new recurring feature, “In Search of the Write Space!” In this series authors will be sharing pictures of their work spaces, giving us all a little glimpse in to their creative lives. I’m excited to have Sarah J. Maas as my very first featured author! She’s a deeply awesome person with an equally awesome writing space. Without further ado, here’s Sarah to take you on your tour. (And don’t feed the puppy; she’ll never stop begging otherwise.)
The Tour
My desk!
Where the magic happens (Seriously. I have a crystal ball.). Uber-weird writing quirk: I keep a mirror behind my desk so I can act out the scenes in my book and study my gestures/expressions.
My Super-Unintellectual Writing Couch
When I get stuck on a particularly hard scene, this is the couch I turn to for some quality Brooding. If anything, though, it’s good for a mid-afternoon nap.
My Writing Companion
My dachshund/jack russel/black lab/eerily-bat-like mutt, Annie. She keeps me sane. Unless she’s trying to sit on my lap while I write, which makes me…not-so-sane.
My (tiny) reference section
In my office, there’s this hideously ugly bookcase built into the wall (left over from another era), which I won’t show (unless you want your eyes to bleed), BUT this is part of it…specifically, my little reference section. It’s got everything from books on Russian folklore to my leather-bound edition of LORD OF THE RINGS to my favorite childhood picture books.
My Nightstand
I keep a small library of books on my nightstand at all times–some of the books (like Nalini Singh’s GUILD HUNTER series) are there because I love them and I’m prone to rereading them at random times, others are books I’ve yet to read. I have two copies of THRONE OF GLASS there, too–one of them is the first copy I ever bought from a real bookstore; the laminated one is my author copy that I bring around to events to have everyone sign (think of it as the ultimate yearbook).
My Other Couch
This is my favorite reading spot in my house. We have a sunroom attached to our master bedroom, and I just looove curling up on the couch and getting lost in a book.
Throne of Glass
by Sarah Maas
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her… but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead… quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
I’m giving away one hardcover copy of THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas! Entries are open to US residents only. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below, and be sure to check out the various ways you can earn extra entries!
UPDATE: I’ve decided to also throw in a THRONE OF GLASS bookplate that has been signed by the author! Whee!
“In Search of the Write Space” is an ongoing feature at meaganspooner.com that showcases authors through the spaces they carve out for creativity. You can find out more about the feature, and see a list of past guests, by clicking here.
If you or someone you represent would like to participate in “Write Space,” check out my policies and fill out the application form here!
