Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2021, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know Sarah Dass and can offer your support.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Distracted, romantic, optimistic, quiet, and easygoing.
Distracted because I have a habit of drifting off, thinking about whatever story I’m working on. It’s good for my writing but hazardous for whatever’s going on in the moment.
Explain your book’s journey—how long did it take—from idea to publication?
I started Where the Rhythm Takes You back in January 2018. The idea came from a conversation with my agent, during which we were discussing retellings. She asked if I ever considered writing one, and it grew from there. For the next year and a half, I wrote and revised Where the Rhythm Takes You. It sold in late 2019 and is being published in 2021!
Balance is the key to successful living. How do you balance the act of writing with other priorities, such as your job, family or fun activities, and self-care?
Honestly, I’m still trying to figure it out. I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive people—which definitely helps—but there’s more to being an author than just writing. Things can get stressful and busy sometimes. I don’t think I’ve found a great balance just yet. I’m still learning.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
When I was writing Where the Rhythm Takes You, I really thought about the kind of book I would’ve wanted when I was a teenager growing up in Tobago. I know what it’s like to search for representation of people like myself and mentions of my country in my favorite popular media and being disappointed when there isn’t any. I hope readers like teenage me connect with the character and that they have a good time with the story.
I also hope that this book reaches readers who may have never read about, been to, or heard of Tobago. That they enjoy this glimpse of my country and culture, and that it encourages them to seek out more books by Caribbean authors.
Tell us about your book.
Where the Rhythm Takes You is a young adult contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion set in Tobago.
In the story, seventeen-year-old Reyna gets a second chance at first love when her childhood best friend, Aiden, comes roaring back into her life. He’s now one-third of the hottest music group, DJ Bacchanal, and a VIP guest at the sea-side resort Reyna’s family owns.
Since her mother passed away two years earlier, Reyna has been trying to fill the space her mom left by running the hotel. But Aiden’s return, after pursuing his music dreams abroad, forces Reyna to take a second look at the choices she’s made, and she must decide whether to continue living for the past or follow her own dreams wherever they take her.
Sarah Dass was born in Trinidad but has lived in Tobago since she was two years old. A graduate of University College London, she works as an office administrator by day and writes stories about the Caribbean by night. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or taking walks with her dachshund. Sarah’s debut novel is inspired by her childhood, spent in a seaside hotel.
Where the Rhythm Takes You
Balzer + Bray/HarperTeen | May 11, 2021 | YA | 352 Pages | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Connect with Sarah Dass
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