S. T. Sanchez
Dallas, Texas
Good morning, Sarah, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for Art and Authors.What have you written?
Sunwalker is my debut novel. It is the first in a YA vampire trilogy.
Lilly is a sunwalker—a vampire born from human parents, able to walk in the daylight. She lives life as human, hiding her true identity from all those around her. One evening, she comes to the rescue of her best friend, Lex, as a vampire is about to make a meal out of her. Lilly is drawn to him, despite her desire to loathe him for almost murdering Lex, as he is the first of her kind she has ever met. As the vampire, Tread, begins to open Lilly's eyes to a world she has never known, Lilly must decide where she belongs. After she is betrayed by the person she loves most, Lilly is forced to submerge herself entirely in the vampire world, only to discover that Tread has a secret so shocking it could destroy them all.
The Portal Keeper, the first book in the keeper chronicles, is set to come out in December.
A mysterious portal, which opens at dawn and closes again at dusk, is located deep in the woods and kept secret from the vast majority of the people who inhabit the kingdom of Rastella. Only a few are aware of its existence and fewer understand the confusing prophecy that accompanies it.
Now, Ajax Maxwell, who is approaching his 14th birthday and has been in training for the past 2 years, is preparing to fulfill his family’s legacy by becoming the next keeper.
But Ajax is afraid. He’s worried that he won’t live up to the expectations placed upon him and will let down his family, like his brother Axel did when he took over from their father and then promptly disappeared.
When the prince of Rastella comes to visit for the first time, accompanied by Ajax’s childhood friend Nivara, it doesn’t take long for things to go wrong. In an accident, the prince falls into the portal and Ajax knows that it’s up to him to go and get him back.
With the knowledge that nobody who has entered it has ever returned, Ajax and Nivara go through the portal to try to save the prince. But what Ajax finds inside, and what he discovers about the prophecy, will test him to his limits.
Nightwalker, book 2 of the Sunwalker trilogy is set to come out in spring of 2018.
What is your favorite genre to write?
I love to write Fantasy. Anything is possible, your imagination is your only limitation.
Favorite food.
I love trying new foods. I love Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Tai. But probably my most favorite meal is Thanksgiving. I love turkey and all the trimmings, and I will sometimes make it up three times a year.
Tea or coffee?
I am not a tea or coffee drinker. But I love hot chocolate.
Pizza or ice cream?
Both! I love all pizza. I love all kinds of ice cream as long as it doesn’t have nuts.
Wine or beer?
I don’t drink alcohol.
Where would you like to visit?
I’d love to visit Italy and Spain.
Favorite musical artist.
I love U2 and Bon Jovi.
Do you listen to music when you write? What?
Music is definitely a must when writing. Lately it’s been Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran.
What makes you laugh?
Teresa Brown. She is one of my crazy friends. We laugh a lot. My kids said that we think we are funny. I guess they don’t think so.
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
I’m not big into art. But I have a talented Aunt who paints, Val Paul, and I love her paintings of Italy. You can check her work out at
How old were you when you started writing?
I really didn’t start writing until college, unless I had a specific assignment. My first book Grounded is locked away never to be seen. I have grown a lot in my writing since then.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I jump right in if I have an idea. If I can knock out a couple of chapters and I feel like the story is going somewhere, then I make an outline and start making notes. It may be a little backwards but it’s what works for me.
Describe your perfect evening.
I have pretty simple tastes. A night at home, with a good movie, takeout, and something chocolate for desert with my husband and kids, is about as perfect as it gets.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I just have a lot of ideas. Sometimes tv shows, books or movies, leave me wondering about unanswered questions and that sparks an idea.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
I take a break, do something I enjoy and then come back to it and try again.
Who is your favorite author?
I really like Brandon Mull. He is a great fantasy author. I read him out loud to my kids. We have loved all his series.
Best book you ever read.
Too many choices. I did really like the Count of Monte Cristo.
Last book you read.
Besides final edits for the portal keeper...I haven’t finished yet but I am in the middle of Dracula.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I would just enjoy being a mother. I love my kids and it is such a gift to get to be their mom. They are growing up too fast, so I would focus more on that. They love getting to hear my stories first, so they are a big inspiration for me to keep writing.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
Probably my mom. There is no one who believes in me more.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
Probably Jean Valjean. He is the main character in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. His journey is just fascinating. He is the kind of character that you wish you would encounter more in real life.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Just keep trying, work hard, don’t get discouraged, and don’t be afraid to rewrite.
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