How do you create great characters? Author Sarah Lamb shares her simple, but actionable tip for creating characters you want to be friends with.
Sarah Lamb’s Book & Writing Process
Table of Contents
Q: What is the title of your book and what is it about?
A: Newly widowed and with a baby on the way, Hannah Carson faces a chilling ultimatum—marry her evil brother-in-law or be forced off her land. As the town of Red Ridge is swayed against her, loyal but aging ranch hand, Gus, sends away for a gunslinger—the only man who might be able to protect them.
Eli Jones takes the job, expecting a simple payday. But the situation is more complicated than he expected, and his presence brings additional risks to Hannah and to himself. In his line of work, falling for a woman is dangerous—and right now, he’s head over heels. It’s not a spot he expected or wanted to be in. As danger and desire surround them, can Eli keep his mind focused on the task at hand? Or will their attraction end in tragedy?
These kisses only books can be enjoyed in any order, but are best read starting with book one, The Gunslinger.
Publication date: May 1, 2025
Q: What genre is The Gunslinger?
A: Clean and wholesome, inspirational Western historical romance
Q: What inspired you to write The Gunslinger, and how did you come up with the idea for it?
A: Oddly enough, when I got to the end of his book, which was originally titled A Gunslinger for Grace, a few of the side characters started to complain. They didn’t like the idea of being one and done in a multi author series. They wanted their own adventures, their own chance at romance, even though that was not something they’d ever thought they’d have.
So, I retitled this, wrote a different A Gunslinger for Grace (which has done quite well) and decided that these friends would get their own series. And, their own happily ever after!
Oh, dear, that’s hilarious! I love it when the characters take over and make demands.
Q: What themes and tropes are included in The Gunslinger?
A: All of my books have such a strong theme of don’t give up. Of keep trying, learning to trust in others, trust in yourself, and allow yourself to be vulnerable and do things even when you are scared.
I love this, especially that the themes carry through all your books.
Q: Who is the ideal reader for The Gunslinger?
A: If you like a slow burn romance with suspense and chock full of heartwarming moments with a bit if humor, this is for you.
This sounds like an interesting combination.
Q: What’s the one thing you want readers to take away from reading The Gunslinger?
A: That sometimes, we are the most brave when we are scared, and that it’s never too late for a second (or first!) chance at love.
Yes! Bravery sometimes happens when we’re most scared…this is also true of falling in love.
Q: Share a favorite quote or two from The Gunslinger.
A: Eli…” She stopped and blushed again. “Eli held my hand for a moment on the ride. Sometimes, I think I see him staring at me.”
“Well, sure,” Gus agreed. “He’s a man, ain’t he? And you’re a good-looking widow. Ain’t nothing wrong with that.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “You could do a lot worse. Why don’t you try and catch him?”
“Gus!” Hannah gasped. “What kind of woman do you think I am?”
The old man shrugged. “One who needs a push to get herself a man who’ll look after her.”
Hannah put her hands on her hips. “I’m just fine, thank you. Besides, I have you.”
It was Gus’s turn to blush, and he mumbled something down at his boots that she couldn’t quite make out.
Q: Are you a plotter, pantser, or plantser? Share a bit of your writing process.
A: I don’t plot. But if I know there’s a scene I want or a particular feel, I’ll write that down and be sure that I include it. I’d love to have great outline I could work from, but I’m just not that kind of a writer.
Knowing what works for you is important, otherwise, you’d keep trying things that don’t work and frustrate yourself.
Q: How do you develop your plots?
A: Everything usually starts with a question. What if?
What if a woman had to take out an ad and the only one who answered was a gunslinger? (A Gunslinger for Grace)
What if a young woman came to be a mail-order bride, but was rejected on the spot? (Alyssa’s Desperate Plan)
What if a woman found out the man she was to marry actually wanted a nanny, not a bride? (Poppy, Garden Belle).
Everything starts with a “What if?”, for me.
I love asking “What if?” It opens up so many worlds for me.
Q: How do you choose your character names?
A: If I don’t already have an idea, I use a baby name book.
Me too, and the internet. Those baby name websites are a wonderful resource.
Q: What does a typical writing session for you look like?
A: I write wherever I can, whenever I can. It’s usually on my laptop and I try and do a chapter a day. However, I have a Chromebook I take places or I use my phone, when I know I’m going to be somewhere for a while, like in a doctor’s waiting room.
I love your discipline and level of commitment!
Q: What makes a great story?
A: Characters who connect with the reader in some way.
Exactly! Once the reader connects with the character(s), the greatest challenge in getting them to enjoy your story has been overcome.
Q: How do you manage writer’s block?
A: I don’t really get writer’s block. You can’t edit a blank page, so I make sure, every day, to write. The more you do, the easier it becomes.
I’ve heard it said that writing is like a muscle—the more you exercise it, the easier it becomes to do it. I’ve found that true in my experience.
Q: How do you deal with imposter syndrome?
A: That is something I have coached many others on. It’s hard to feel like the little person in the room of big, famous, six-figure authors. Imposter syndrome is a cousin to fear. Find out what’s making you feel scared so you can break through that block. Other authors are very welcoming to new writers, so don’t be afraid you don’t measure up. Everyone starts with that first book.
This is a wonderful approach—if we can remember that everyone starts with a first book, it will level the playing field for us.
Q: How do you handle criticism or negative feedback?
A: It’s hurtful, I won’t lie. But those aren’t my readers. Not all books are for all readers. That’s okay. I don’t usually read my reviews, simply because I don’t want to risk getting depressed by that one single review, when there are dozens of positive ones. We always seem to find that one bad one, and ignore the positive. That’s just inviting imposter syndrome! Don’t waste time on that, just keep writing.
So true! One negative review can impact us and linger in our psyches much longer than a thousand positive ones.
Q: What was the most challenging aspect of writing and publishing? How did you (do you plan to) overcome it?
A: For me, it’s time. I have a child with a chronic medical condition. I now homeschool him, and I also run my own editing business where I help other authors. That comes first. My writing is last. That’s why I make sure to use any free time I have for writing. I have gotten very good at writing in twenty-minute bursts.
Knowing the order of your priorities is important. I love how you put your family first, while also carving out time for your business and creative endeavors.
Q: How do you use social media as an author?
A: I have both an author page where I share releases and news but also a more private reader community. That’s where I hold author parties and giveaways, post games and questions, and interact with each day with readers.
Reader communities can be fun. I’m sure your readers appreciate having a place where they can connect with you.
Q: Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
A: Inspiration is everywhere around us. As I’d said before, it all starts with…”What if…”
Yes, I love playing the “What if…” game.
Q: What keeps you writing when you get demotivated?
A: This is a difficult business. You MUST be able to stay motivated. No one will write for you. Others don’t care if you succeed. Find the reason you want this, want to write, want to publish. That keeps you going.
Great advice: “No one will write for you”. The truth is, two people can start with the same idea and take it in different directions. But if we lose our motivation, our stories won’t get told.
Q: Why do you write?
A: Like many others, I enjoy telling stories.
It’s the best thing ever🥰.
Writing Advice from Sarah Lamb
Q: What advice would you give to someone who’s just starting?
A: Write what you enjoy. Then, go back over it. Top to bottom, add, remove, enhance it. Write every day. The first books take longer. Once you discover your style and have experience in putting your thoughts to the page, it goes faster.
So true. I’ve heard many authors tell of their first books taking years, but as they continue to write, the time to produce a completed book becomes shorter each time.
Q: What’s the best piece of writing advice you ever received? How has it impacted your life?
A: I don’t know as I have ever gotten a piece of writing advice that really impacted me more than just keep writing. That’s what being an author is. Writing the next page.
Sometimes the simplest advice is what impacts us the most.
Q: What are your tips for developing characters?
A: Make them lifelike. Write in flaws, hopes, fears, and dreams. Make them so real, you wonder if you’ll find them the next town over.
Yes! I’ve lost track of the number of characters I’ve read over the years who I felt I could be best friends with. Reproducing this in our books is what builds a community of readers.
Q: Do you have any advice for setting author goals?
A: Keep it simple! Write out what you want to accomplish and read it every month or quarter to see if you are on track. If you aren’t, how can you adjust to reach that goal?
Reviewing your goals is a critical factor in accomplishing them. Because as you said, if we don’t review them, how will we know when we go off track or what needs to be adjusted?
Q: How do you find time to write?
A: I don’t watch TV. Any free time I have is used to write.
Wow! I respect this: if you want to accomplish something, you must be willing to say no to other things.
Q: What are your tips for meeting deadlines?
A: In the self publishing world, there are serious consequences for missing deadlines. For example, losing preorder privileges and reader trust. Always, always work ahead of your deadlines. Never to the wire. Life has a way of throwing things at you.
Oh, you’re right about that. Life loves throwing stuff at us to see if we’re paying attention.
Q: What are your suggestions for marketing books and getting them into the hands of new readers?
A: Write good books, be on brand and to market, and cross promote with others in your genre.
On the surface, these tips appear simple, yet they cut to the heart of what we need to do to get our books in front of the right readers.
Q: If you could go back and change one thing in your author career, what would it be and why?
A: I would have formed connections with other authors a little sooner and not been so shy to ask questions.
Forging connections is an important part of any business and is definitely something that will serve an author who’s determined to succeed.
Just for Fun
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
A: I’d love teleportation. How time saving that would be!
I know, right? Think of all the places we could go…for research, of course!😉
Q: If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be and why?
A: Oddly, Frasier Crane. His advice is always something I’d love to have firsthand.
Huh, that’s interesting. But wouldn’t it be fun to pick the brain of an established psychiatrist?
Q: What is your favorite book and why?
A: I have so many! I enjoy a variety of nonfiction, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and history books. My favorite is usually the one I’m currently reading or writing.
It’s hard to choose, isn’t it? I love the fact that you read across multiple genres.
Q: If you were not a writer, what would you want to be and why?
A: If I didn’t write, I’d want to be a child advocate. I’ve learned so much about that with my son (and wrote a book on helping others advocate called The Unapologetic Advocate). I have this desire to always help those struggling, to make things better for them.
Maybe that’s why so much of that comes into my books, and I love editing for other authors. I can see those small tweaks that will elevate their book, and help them get that feeling they wanted from it.
Being a child advocate is a worthy endeavor, and I like the way you find other ways to use this talent in your current job.
Q: If you could switch lives with any person for a day, who would it be and why?
A: I’d want to be one of my kids, so that I could make sure they knew I was doing the best I can. That way, if they didn’t, I could do better.
Aww, that’s so sweet!
Q: What‘s the scariest thing you’ve ever done for fun?
A: Driving to Disney. My husband drives, and we’ve had near misses. Those interstates in Florida…it’s very scary. I’m a total fraidy cat.
LOL. I can totally see where driving to Disney, especially with eager and agitated children, can be nerve-wracking.
Q: If your characters hosted a dinner party, who would cause the most chaos and why?
A: In The Gunslinger? Mmm. Old Gus would be telling his tall tales, and that might be fun!
I actually would want to be a guest at this dinner party.
Q: What’s your writing kryptonite–the one thing that can completely derail your progress?
A: When I start to worry because something happens in life that I can’t control, like a medical issue. We have a lot of those. It is VERY hard to push through and keep writing. But worry doesn’t fix things. I’m working hard to learn not to dwell in those places, and just keep writing the next page.
I’m sorry you have to go through this, but love that you keep pressing forward.
Q: What’s a random fact you learned while researching your book that you can’t stop telling people?
A: Ohhh, I’m not sure I have one for this series!
And now I’ve planted a worm in your head…
Q: If your characters had access to social media, what kind of content would they post?
A: Hannah might do housekeeping tips. Gus would be all about the ranch life. Eli? Quite possibly, he’d be looking for bounties to take out. And his friends, Billy and Gavin? They are about to have some adventures of their own, and so I’d bet they’d be posting about being interested in someone and researching missing children.
These would be fun. Lol.
Q: If your keyboard could talk, what would it say about your writing habits?
A: Haha! Sarah, stop dropping crumbs on me. I snack while typing.
🤣🤣
Q: Which character from another author’s book would you invite into your fictional world and why?
A: Umm. I don’t know. William Johnstone’s Prairie Detectives is a book I’m reading right now and like. Maybe the two detectives from there.
I’d be curious to read a piece of fan fiction that features this crossover.
Q: What’s the one question you wish I’d asked and how would you answer it?
A: I think I’d have liked to be asked how readers can find more out about me! And get some FREE books! Stop over at www.sarahlambbooks.com That’s where you’ll get free books, find my reader community, and my newsletter sign up.
Free Download: This is the ebook sequel, totally free. They can visit my author website for the free audiobook as well.
That’s the next section. LOL., but thanks for asking it and providing a free download for my readers.
Let’s Connect with Sarah Lamb
Q: What are you working on next?
A: I’m continuing my Red Ridge Chronicles, as well as a few mail-order bride books, and a contemporary Christmas series this year.
About The Gunslinger
Urgently needed, a gunslinger to protect a woman, her daughter, and her unborn babe.
Newly widowed and with a baby on the way, Hannah Carson faces a chilling ultimatum—marry her evil brother-in-law or be forced off her land. As the town of Red Ridge is swayed against her, loyal but aging ranch hand, Gus, sends away for a gunslinger—the only man who might be able to protect them.
Eli Jones takes the job, expecting a simple payday. But the situation is more complicated than he expected, and his presence brings additional risks to Hannah and to himself. In his line of work, falling for a woman is dangerous—and right now, he’s head over heels. It’s not a spot he expected or wanted to be in.
As danger and desire surround them, can Eli keep his mind focused on the task at hand? Or will their attraction end in tragedy?
These kisses only books can be enjoyed in any order, but are best read starting with book one.
About Sarah Lamb
Sarah writes captivating characters and clean romance that’s anything BUT boring! From heartbreaking moments to heartwarming tales, get swept away in either historical or small town romance that pulls you in until the last page.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she’s married to her Texan husband, you’ll find Sarah creating her next book, homeschooling her two boys, or volunteering in her community.
Connect with Sarah Lamb on her Website | Author Central | Facebook | Reader Community | Book Bub
