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Painting Zebras
Finding Sarah follows a young woman who navigates the complexities of her life after the traumatic loss of her mother and subsequent abandonment by her father. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Sarah Wilkinson appeared in the first book of the series when she met Annie while she was painting her zebras, living in a tent in East Africa. I actually met a woman in Tanzania doing exactly that! I was on a safari with my family and our guide introduced us to her and her sculptor companion who became the inspiration for the character Sam Bartow.
At the end of Book 2, with the emergence of Hans Schuman as a past love interest of Sarah’s, I was intrigued with what their back story might be.
So far, it is the only book I have written first person. I tried to have her write it, tell it, remember it…but somehow the only way it worked was her feeling the pain and the loss and the hurt.
I have a 10-year-old granddaughter and I found myself stepping into her shoes to experience things I hope she never has to in real life. When she put the paint set in the back of the closet after the birthday gift, I wasn’t sure how it would play into it. But it felt so natural with the young social worker asked her to find something from a happier time with her parents.
The entire art process Sarah went through was an inspiration to research and write. Finding two authentic women painters who played right into the story for real gave Sarah an authenticity and I let her lead me as she faced challenges, disappointments, confusion, and success.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
Certainly, the artist I met in Tanzania and my granddaughter had a significant impact on the character of Sarah. I am fortunate to have had creative success over the year, but I have also had my share of hard knocks. Sarah has to pick herself up again and again, but there were always angels close by with Camille, Tara, and Patrice. I believe that there are people in our lives that can provide that support when needed if you just allow yourself to let them in.
I tried to convey that when Sarah was heart broken and hiding away at Yvette’s family home in the south of France. When she made that conscious decision to buy dinner and open up to Patrice, she allowed that support that was right there in to help her.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Angels Among Us, Resilience, Women’s Empowerment, Artistic Discipline and Road to Success, Second Chances
What is the next story that you’re writing and when will it be published?
I have just published Moroccan Sunset: Dawn of a New Beginning in which Sarah is a key character. It is her perseverance and sense of adventure, as well as her romantic relationship with Hans, that gives our new character, Elena Al Farooq, inspiration to find what Sarah has in her own life.
I envision two more books in this series and have just begun to write the story of Mara, the Balinese artist who was also introduced in the first book. She has become a highly successful fashion designer in Milan, Italy, caught up in the glitz and glamour of the high fashion world of fashionistas and celebrities around the world. However, she can’t shake the fear of losing touch with her humble Balinese roots and values that defined her upbringing.
These characters that represent such different cultures and traditions are fascinating to me and give me so many possibilities to explore. I am hoping to have Mara’s book released in late Spring 2025.
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Sarah Wilkinson has found passion as a painter whose skillful talent was shaped and influenced by many, including two past female artists who came from different worlds and different centuries, yet both defied the odds against women becoming successful artists.
Evolved from the Annie’s Journey series, Sarah was living in a tent painting the wild animals of the Serengeti in East Africa when Annie met her. They quickly became close friends, but what Annie was unaware of is the heartbreaking childhood Sarah experienced before she struggled to find her way into the competitive art world. As a result, it was Annie who would force Sarah to confront her destiny and make a choice that would forever change her life.
Her father, in a letter written just before his death, referred to Sarah as a phoenix that rises from the ashes to new heights. Follow along as Sarah surpasses one pitfall after the other, painstakingly getting closer to finding her sense of purpose.
Can artistic success help Sarah escape the ashes of her childhood to believe in second chances and allow her inner phoenix to soar?
Finding Sarah: A Phoenix to Behold
Finding Sarah follows the journey of Sarah, a young woman who navigates the complexities of her life after the traumatic loss of her mother and subsequent abandonment by her father. The novel paints an intimate portrait of Sarah’s inner turmoil, her artistic evolution, and her personal relationships as she grows from a shy, uncertain girl into a woman ready to embrace her talents and dreams. Set against the backdrop of Sarah’s passion for painting and her love for animals, the story weaves in themes of resilience, grief, and finding one’s place in the world.
What struck me immediately about Finding Sarah was how vividly Sarah’s emotional journey is portrayed. Her struggle with grief and abandonment felt so real and relatable. From the early chapters, we see her turning to art as a way to process her pain, especially after her mother’s tragic death. The scene where she shares her first painting with her grandmother felt particularly poignant, as it not only reveals Sarah’s growing talent but also shows the quiet way she and her grandmother bonded over their shared grief. Author Nina Purtee does a beautiful job of giving these moments emotional weight without over-explaining.
The plot itself is strong, and Sarah’s growth from the shy girl hiding behind her art to the confident artist ready to take on the world kept me invested throughout. One of my favorite parts of the book was the detailed depiction of Sarah’s artistic process. There is this wonderful scene where she becomes inspired by a book on falconry, visualizing the majestic flight of falcons and translating it onto canvas. This moment highlights her creativity and her ability to draw meaning from unexpected sources, which I found inspiring. The way Purtee ties in the idea of the phoenix symbolizing Sarah’s rebirth and growth was a clever touch that added a layer of symbolism to the story.
I’d recommend Finding Sarah to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction with strong emotional depth and a focus on personal growth. It’s a story for anyone who has ever felt lost or unsure of their place in the world but found solace in their passions.
Pages: 300 | ASIN : B0CTJ8FH5S
LITERARY TITAN 