We chat with author Sarah T. Dubb about Honey Bee Mine, which is a sweet and sexy small town romance and follows a type-A beekeeper and a former bad boy join forces to plan a summertime Honey Festival.
Hi, Sarah! When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve been an avid reader and eager writer for as long as I can remember, but until 2020, I concentrated on writing creative nonfiction. I discovered romance novels during the COVID lockdown, and after consuming every ebook I could get from my library, I decided to try my hand at writing fiction. I like to think I was trained partially from my previous decades of voracious reading!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli comes to mind. I believe I read that in 3rd grade or so! The first book I remember being obsessed with–like face in the pages, leave me alone obsessed–was A Tale of Two Cities when I was in 10th grade.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan was the first romance I read that fateful spring of 2020; while I didn’t know yet that I would eventually start writing romance myself, it set me on the path and changed my life! I’ve also always been inspired by the work of Barbara Kingsolver and Louise Erdrich–their words and work have taught me so much about literature and life.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Before I Let Go, Kennedy Ryan – I think often about how this devastating and hopeful romance shows the power of storytelling. It’s just so good! Also The Overstory, Richard Powers – This dizzying literary fiction novel about trees rises in my thoughts on the daily.
Your new novel, Honey Bee Mine, is out February 10th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Sweet healing found at home.
What can readers expect?
They can expect the sunshine cozy-ness of a small-town romance with some deep exploration of what it means to come home and who we make a home with. It’s full of queer found family, blooming flowers, a little dirty talk, and a lot of healing. And a lot of bee facts!
Where did the inspiration for Honey Bee Mine come from?
I spent two summers vacationing in the Finger Lakes region of New York state and knew I wanted to set a story there. It’s so green and bright and lovely and dotted with small towns that literally have cute festivals every weekend. I wanted to do a small-town romance that still felt modern and progressive, where we could take some of our beloved small-town tropes–like the hometown good girl and the town rebel–and explore what those roles mean for each of them.
When my editor suggested I think about writing bees, I knew this was the perfect setting, and the story flowed from there.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
One of my characters is a beekeeper, so I attended a few hands-on beekeeping workshops as part of my research. During one of them, we were able to watch a baby bee emerge from a cell in the hive. It was a really magical, quiet moment, and as I watched the baby stretch its new wings and walk around the comb, I knew I would write it in the book. And I did!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Oh, plenty! Honey Bee Mine was actually my second attempt at a sophomore novel, so I began writing with a dearth of confidence. There were plenty of times when I doubted I could make the story come together, but I had no choice but to keep writing! It’s just about making the choice every day to sit down and try to find the story. I’m so glad I did because I absolutely love this story, and I hope the readers who find it will feel like I’ve given them a warm hug.
What’s next for you?
I just turned in the first draft of my third book. I won’t say much about it, but it does have plenty of birds in it. So folks who enjoyed my debut, Birding with Benefits, should stay tuned.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I discovered some amazing new-to-me authors this year: Rebecca Kinkade, Jem Zero, and Viano Oniomo, among others! I read constantly, so my list is never-ending. I’m looking forward to finally reading August Lane by Regina Black and am in great anticipation of the next book in Simone Soltani’s Lights Out series!
