Sarah Ickes is...On the Writing Block!

As Christmas steadily approaches, we are joined by another author. But just who is Sarah?

Sarah Ickes has a devoted passion to art, a love for reading and writing, and has an old soul when it comes to television and films. Though she has a degree in Fine Arts, her life is not as simple as a piece of paper. She has worked in retail management, web designing, and marketing to name a few of the realms of her experiences. The pets in her life take precedence, as anyone with animals knows. Her interest in historical America comes vividly to life in her Murial Robertson mysteries, following the adventures of a woman in the 1880s. Currently, she has three books in the series, as well as her first cozy mystery and the first installment in her steampunk/mythology series. And Pennsylvania is where she calls home, as there is no other place like it.

What is your ultimate goal as an author?

As a reader, I want a story to transport me into the world inside of the author’s mind. I tend to read clean stories that emphasize on the creativity behind the setting, all the while, giving me relatable characters that go against seemingly unbeatable odds. Because who doesn’t love a good underdog story, right?

As an author, my goal is to achieve what I search for in a book as a reader, with the hope that others may find enjoyment in it as well.

Who are two authors that have inspired your writing?

I would have to say that Rick Riordan and Natalie Babbit had the most profound influence on my writing style. With the creativity level Mr. Riordan brings to his fantasy novels, and the way that Ms. Babbit had a knack for weaving a deeper meaning into stories that appeared simpler on the surface, both authors helped me in not only finding a passion for reading, but for developing my own world of imagination I draw from for my storylines.

Now, I realize that neither one of them are designated as mystery authors, however, elements of their books contain mysteries; such as the missing uncle in Kneeknock Rise by Ms. Babbit and the whole concept of how an oracle’s prophecy becomes fulfilled in the Percy Jackson series by Mr. Riordan. In my opinion, having a novel referenced as being equal on their level, would be of the highest praise one can receive.

How much research do you conduct for your storylines?

The amount of research I do depends on the type of mystery I am writing. For instance, I spend more hours a day deep in history books and reference material published in the 19th century for my historical fiction novels featuring Murial Robertson in the 1880s. For my contemporary fantasy, many elements of the story stem from historical events and past experiences Vectra Tillerman has gone through, in my series “Vectra Tillerman’s Adventures.” That requires almost, if not the same, amount of deep research as Murial’s mysteries. But when it comes to a contemporary setting, such as what can be found in The Ghost of Christmas Pastel, many of the features are already familiar to me and actually make it easier when it comes to descriptions of objects and their surroundings. Ironically, however, I find it much more enjoyable to write about the past than of the present.

Are there any animals in your book? If so, describe them and how involved they are in the investigation.

In my historical fiction series, Murial Robertson lives on a farm, so there are many different animals referenced throughout the storylines. That being said, there aren’t really any she considers close enough to be a pet and they aren't active in the unfolding of the mysteries. Vectra Tillerman, on the other hand, has a coyote-fox friend called Rae who watches over her place whilst she’s away. Rae’s mannerism is akin to a dog’s and her loyalty is beyond reproach. As for Cybil Lawson, in The Ghost of Christmas Pastel, she ends up acquiring a fish named Norris from an unidentified shadowy man and the little golden sidekick quickly turns out to being an important clue in the mystery.

What is The Ghost of Christmas Pastel about?

A light-hearted amateur sleuth mystery with a cup of woven secrets, a dash of danger and a pinch of holiday spirit.

Despite her car being as broken as her checking account, her uncle coming home after thirteen years of being away, and her best friend volunteering her for the Annual Christmas Dinner at their church, Cybil Lawson is determined to have a great Christmas this year. That is, until disaster strikes when the choir director is found dead in the middle of the road with evidence of a sleigh and rogue reindeer at fault.

All joking aside, the number of suspects is longer than Santa’s Nice List, but Cybil’s main interest is merely to convince the new officer on the force that she has no hand in the foul play. That could prove to be rather difficult, however, as Robbyr’s Cove turns into a sea of unfolding drama and danger overnight.

Things are messy enough without another body being thrown into a mix of robbery, stalking, threats, judgmental home bakers and a plethora of clues. As the case drags on, her best friend finds herself caught in the cross-hairs of the investigation and it’s up to Cybil on whether she gets the recipe right or bakes them into jail.

Oh, and did I mention a missing reindeer by the name of Rudolph?