An Interview with Author, Erin Sands: Part 1

Erin Sands opens up about writing, courage and her favorite place...

What makes you happiest?

Moments spent with family and friends bring me the greatest joy. I recently went out of town to Las Vegas to celebrate my best friends birthday. It was a reunion of sorts, about twenty of us who have known each other for years and I enjoyed it immensely. After I came home I realized that I felt richer in an emotional and spiritual way and it was because I had spent time laughing and enjoying the company of friends. Those are the moments in life that mean the most to me, the moments spent surrounded by love, laughter and unconditional acceptance.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from my mother. She is the most remarkable woman I know. She is beautiful inside and out. She has a huge heart, a fierce wit and a pure joy for life and living every moment to the fullest. This year she celebrates her 65th birthday and she wants to go zip lining for her birthday. You don’t hear many 65year olds saying that. My mom is an awesome woman and she inspires me daily.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing?

Maya Angelou wrote: “Courage is the most important of all of the virtues, because without courage you can not practice any of the other virtues consistently”.

It is my sincere hope after reading The Dunes that people would walk away feeling a bit more brave. I bared my soul in The Dunes and I did so because it is important for people to know that they are not alone. Many of us have been afraid and let our fears block us in one way or another. Many of us have needed to truly release the pain of the past and forgive. When you know that you are not alone and that others have felt what you have felt, yet were able to summon the courage to move forward, it lets you know that if they did it, you can too. I hope The Dunes reminds the reader of their innate courage and their God given ability to overcome.

How did you come up with the title?

I came up with the title for The Dunes because in southern California in the city of Manhattan Beach there is a 100-foot sand dune that people come from miles around to use as a form of exercise. It is incredibly steep and the sand gives such a loose traction that it is extremely challenging to climb to the very top. Years ago I was one of the many who would go there in the blazing sun and attempt to make it to the top. The journey and the pay off were so intense that it made an impression on me. So when it came time to write the allegorical part of my book I instantly gravitated to that memory in terms of a character overcoming a hurdle in their life and the feeling of victory that comes from being able to conquer your “mountain” so to speak.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

The two most difficult parts of writing The Dunes were the allegory sections in the first and second revelations and the Commentary section. The allegory section of The Dunes tells the story of two characters: The One and The Other. Although, as the story unfolds the reader quickly learns that The One and The Other represent a man and a woman, I chose not to reveal which was which until the very end of the second revelation. I did this because I did not want the reader to identify with the character simply because they shared the same gender identity. I wanted the reader to identify with the character in which they shared the same fear paradigm. So for the first two chapters you do not know which character is the woman and which character is the man. You just know each of the characters challenges and fears. Still…it is incredibly hard to write without pronouns. I was relieved when I got to the third revelation and I could write more freely. Writing the commentary section of The Dunes was challenging because I had to be very transparent and share some very personal experiences from my life. But I knew that there was no way that I could ask readers to take this very introspective journey if I wasn’t willing to do the same in return.

Are there any books you really don’t enjoy?

I really do not enjoy romance novels, which is hilarious because I am a hopeless romantic. I enjoy a romantic story line that is the sub plot in a mystery or thriller but I do not enjoy books where the primary plot is a love story.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?

I currently reside in southern California with my husband. However, I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and I was raised in northern California’s Bay Area. To be honest I am very much a product of both environments. I like things simple, I love outdoors, I appreciate the value of hard work and the importance of family. I believe that is very systemic of my Midwestern roots. I appreciate culture, I love diversity, I love the arts and I am passionate about politics. Those are things I believe I inherited from my Bay Area upbringing. The environments and the value system of these two states and regions influenced my outlook on life and thus influenced my writing. Each place is rich in heritage and culture. I am proud to be a product of both.

How did you develop your plot and characters?

My book, The Dunes, is separated into 7 chapters, which I call “Revelations”. Each of the revelations has three different aspects; an allegory, a commentary and a journal section with a challenge for the reader. The allegorical part of The Dunes, which is located at the beginning of each revelation, features two characters that are aptly named, “The One” and “The Other”. I came up with the idea for the allegory because I was going through a challenging time in my life and I began journaling as a form of self-therapy. Because I am a writer, my journal was more creative than most and took the form of an allegory. I created the characters based on lessons I was learning about fear, forgiveness, commitment, trust, perseverance, surrender and gratitude. I made the characters learn these lessons while they were in the midst of a cumbersome journey that was calling them to stretch and grow in ways they never imagined. Their journey was indicative of mine.

Who is your favorite author?

I have enjoyed many books and many authors over the years, so this question is a little bit hard for me to answer. That said, the author that I go back to time and time again. The author that makes me think and reason in a new way is, C.S Lewis. I love his writing style and his profoundly astute approach to Christianity.

What’s your favorite place in the entire world?

My favorite place in the entire world exists at the end of the day when I can climb into bed and rest my head on my husband’s chest. It never fails to bring me peace.

To be continued...