We chat with author Sarah Broadway about Queen of the Dead, which is a fun and fast-paced paranormal urban fantasy with a touch of romance and supernatural hijinks galore, perfect for fans of The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates.
Hi, Sarah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I love writing!! It is my absolute favorite thing to do! With writing, you can go anywhere, do anything, be anyone – it’s limitless! For my day job, I work as digital content producer at a local TV station in Huntsville, Alabama. Writing news can be difficult sometimes. A majority of what I write for work is often super serious and rather depressing. I used to take my breaks at the TV station and escape to the bookstore where I could write anything and everything that came to mind. I have other things I love – like being outdoors, knitting, or watching movies and cartoons, but it’s writing that always has my heart.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember, but it was in the third-grade that I fully became a writer. My dad bought me a word processor around that time and I have yet to stop writing!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: No Jumping on the Bed by Tedd Arnorld. The movement of that story is so fun – jumping on the bed only to go crashing down through each apartment floor below. It definitely fueled my imagination!
- The one that made you want to become an author: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Gabaldon is pretty much a Jedi Master when it comes to the craft of writing and she generously shares what works for her in essays and interviews.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I will never, ever stop thinking about the Harper Connelly Mysteries by Charlaine Harris! Those books heavily influenced the tone I was going for in Queen of the Dead.
Your debut novel, Queen of the Dead, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Spooky, heartfelt, cozy, quirky, and, hopefully, fun.
What can readers expect?
After a certain point in the writing process, books seem to take on their own personality. For a book that has a pretty grim setting and is filled with the dead, Queen of the Dead turned out to be very warm and inviting. It’s rather pacey with the plot and can carry you along quickly, but at its heart, is a character-driven story that readers might be surprised to find a sense of home in.
Where did the inspiration for Queen of the Dead come from?
There are three cemeteries on my way to the grocery store. That can make for a bleak and gloomy trip to get some bread and milk. One day, as I was driving by, I thought about all the life stories that existed in those cemeteries and then an idea popped into my head. I envisioned a ghost sitting on her tombstone with a teacup and saucer, ready to tell me everything about her and Bam! – Mrs. Hammond was born and a story started to take shape.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Lou. For the longest time, writing Lou felt like coming home and that might be where this story gets its heartfelt vibes. Lou needed a family. She needed someone to see her for who she was despite the creepy “curse” she’d been dealt. From Lou, came Mortie – a father that loved her for who she was, and then, Vick – a friend that was more a sister who isn’t afraid to say it like it is, even if it stings a little. After that, the entire world in Queen of the Dead unfolded and became easy to write.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I’m recently divorced and writing Queen of the Dead happened toward the end of my marriage. Writing had always been a joy for me, but during that time, it became my only way to escape. I hung onto that story like it was a lifeline pulling me through. There have been times when it’s hard to look back at the birth of this story because it’s tied to some painful memories, but it cemented my love of writing and helped me define who I am and how I get to be.
What’s next for you?
The stories never stop – I love them too much! Right now, I’m working on a few different stories. I’ve always written across several genres of fiction. One of the stories is a new adult fantasy laced with romance and the other two are middle-grade adventure stories. Middle-grade fiction is brand new to me as a writer and I am loving it!! I have a writing-partner for one of them and if I thought writing on my own was fun – pff, this has been nothing but the best time ever! I can’t wait for readers to discover what we’ve got cooking!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up in 2026?
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell and Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross. Both were very fun, wonderfully written books. As for what’s ahead – I follow with anticipation anything that V.E. Schwab writes. She’s another author that is generous with sharing what works for her when it comes to writing. Her “Story Corpse” method changed a lot for me.
