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Sarah V. Barnes writes the stories inside her.

Do you listen to music while you write or edit? If so, what’s on your writing playlist?

Yes, music is very important to me for creating an atmosphere conducive to writing. Given the setting and themes of She Who Rides Horses, I’m most likely to choose tracks evocative of indigenous cultures – Native American flutes and drumming, for example. Among my favorite artists are Carlos Nakai, Douglas Blue Feather, Mary Youngblood and Marina Raye.

What’s the best compliment a reader has ever given you?

Once, at a bookstore reading, I met a teenager visiting from out of town with her parents. They just happened to drop into The Boulder Bookstore and stayed for my presentation. In the Q & A afterwards, the teen’s mother, with her daughter sitting shyly next to her, asked for any advice I might have for an aspiring young writer. My response was to write with passion about something you love. The family ended up buying a copy of She Who Rides Horses for me to sign. Later, I received an email from the teen, saying that she’d finished the book in one sitting. She told me that the story—along with my answer to her mother’s question—had inspired her to follow her own dream of being a writer. I’m proud of the awards the book has received, but I treasure the message from that young reader and aspiring writer.

What is your favorite non-reading activity?

Not surprisingly, when I’m not writing, I can most often be found at the barn with the horses. I usually go in the morning, in part to avoid the heat later in the day, but also because I find that if I spend time being present with the herd first, I return home in a more creative state, better able to dive into writing. There is something about being around the energy of horses that helps to gain access to the imaginal realm.  To the extent that creative writing is a shamanic art, I’ve learned that, like magic, horses can transport us to that space.

Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome? How do you work through that?

Surprisingly, no—at least not in connection with She Who Rides Horses. I didn’t intend to become a writer of creative historical fiction, especially at my stage of life, when I’ve already been through several careers. Rather, the story came to me as a gift. It’s not mine—I am merely the conduit. I do feel a responsibility to tell the story to the best of my ability, but since the story chose me, who am I to question?  Instead, I just trust the story. I’m able enjoy the process, without feeling there’s anything to prove—it’s very liberating, not to mention fun.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Paying for an excellent editor. Having been trained as a historian, rather than an English major, when I started out, I had a lot to learn. I was not particularly interested in attending a lot of workshops or participating in writing groups—was afraid of becoming self-conscious and stifling the story. Instead, I just wrote—but then I had the sense to turn what I’d written over to a very talented and sympathetic editor. She has encouraged me every step of the way, while at the same time teaching me a tremendous amount. I’ve definitely become a better writer in the process.

When Sarah is not writing historical fiction, along with the occasional poem, she teaches riding as a meditative art and offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops.  She holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing.  Sarah and her husband have two grown daughters and live in the foothills outside Boulder, Colorado with their dogs.   Although Sarah’s husband is extremely tolerant of her equine obsession, he is also severely allergic, so Sarah’s horses live nearby rather than at home.   She is currently finishing the second novel in the She Who Rides Horses trilogy.

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