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I’m grateful to Sarah Hanks for endorsing my upcoming novel, House of Wind. It launches on September 8, 2026.
Teaser for House of Wind:
Not all abuse leaves bruises.
Pastor’s wife Wendi Burkham has the perfect life—until the doors close.
No one sees the truth. No one believes her.
How do you escape a prison no one else can see?
It’s up for preorder now on Amazon.
Back to Sarah . . .
Sarah, too, has written about the effects of emotional abuse, particular the spiritual kind. Every Voice Heard (by N.Y. Dunlap, D.T. Powell, and Sarah Hanks) consists of three novellas about abuse in the church. Sarah’s story is called “For the Love of Truth.”
However, today I’m featuring her novel New Creations, a tale based on Sarah’s grandfather. I love intergenerational stories—in this case, a granddaughter and her dear grandpa. Additionally, what drew me to this story was the small-town, Mayberry-esque barbershop and the premise—do we need to do something great to have our lives count for something?
Blurb for New Creations
Floyd Douglas is a blundering barber who faces retirement wondering if the past sixty years of his life have been a waste. When he’s presented with the opportunity to go on a mission trip, it seems like the answer to his prayers and a way to finally make his life count for something. Now with a series of obstacles standing in the way of his newfound dream, he must decide whether to push through or find contentment in being the faithful family man he’s always been.
Emira has always looked up to her grandpa, especially since her parents’ marriage fractured and left her foundations shaken. Now, she scrambles to assure the man who taught her how to love what a deeply meaningful life he’s lived.
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My thoughts
Floyd Douglas is reminiscent of another Floyd—the barber in Mayberry. Though Floyd Douglas is a completely different personality, this tale is just as heart-warming as watching an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Floyd lives a simple life of loving the people placed in his life, having a big impact on the folks in his community.
At first I thought the three parallel timelines would throw me off, but it was manageable. In the 1960s, Floyd is a young man. We follow him from 1954 to 1970. In the 1990s, we have his granddaughter Emira’s point of view as a young girl, with Floyd is in his 50s. Then jump to 2010 when Emira is an adult and Floyd is about 70. The years are labeled so the story easily flows from one timeline to the next, back and forth.
Floyd is a father figure to his granddaughter Emira because her dad hasn’t always been emotionally or physically available. Emira has many fond memories of hanging out at the barber shop—New Creations—as a kid. Her over-the-top grandma cuts the ladies’ hair. As a child, Emira does a lot of singing and dancing to oldies like “Put on a Happy Face,” “I’m Going to Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair,” and “Let Me Entertain You.”
When Floyd is seventy, he’s wondering if he has done enough to pull his weight in the world. Upon his retirement, he believes running a barber shop is not a big enough achievement. In his mind, his life has been marked by failure, mistakes, and wasting time.
To compensate, he signs up for a several-week missions trip to Haiti. Elmira is dismayed.
This poignant novel is a variation of It’s a Wonderful Life—without the visit from an angel. It shows how God uses ordinary people—real, raw, and relatable. Some events ended in disaster, some in humor. The story runs the gamut of emotions.
Sarah Hanks wrote this novel to honor her grandfather, and it certainly does. One of my favorite lines is:
“Those who’d sat in his chair throughout the years
had lost more weight in worries than they ever had in hair.”
Join me for some Q & A with author Sarah Hanks.
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Comment below for a chance to win your choice of an ebook or a paperback—USA only.
Questions about New Creations
What was your inspiration for writing New Creations? What’s your personal connection to the story and/or setting?
Sarah: New Creations was inspired by my grandpa and the hilarious stories he’s told throughout the years. The 1960s storyline is based on those stories and includes much true family history. (The other storylines are more fictionalized.)
I grew up working as a receptionist in my grandparents’ barber shop. My grandpa paid me with his tips. I sang and danced for the older ladies sitting under the driers in back. My grandpa has had a huge impact on my life and I wanted to honor him with this story.
What a wonderful way to honor him! And what a blessing to have that kind of relationship with your grandpa. How well did you know your key characters at the beginning of the novel, or did you get to know them as you wrote? How did they evolve?
Sarah: I’d heard all of my grandpa’s funny stories from his younger years, but in preparation for writing the novel, I listened to him tell them again. I asked a lot of questions and learned details I’d never known before. The familiar tales came alive, and I could picture my grandpa as a young man fumbling through life.
I enjoyed spending time with my grandpa learning more about him. He took my family on a tour to his old neighborhoods and we got to see where the famous events took place. The 2D became 3D as I paid attention to each detail.
You’re so fortunate to have had the opportunity for a “grandpa tour.” If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?
Sarah: All my grandpa’s siblings could have their own book. They each have interesting stories. If I were to write a spin-off, it would probably be about Kathy, named Karen in the novel.
She was the first sibling in the family to come to Christ, and she prayed the rest of them in. She was a remarkable woman, dearly-loved, and her funeral was indeed full to the brim (as depicted in the novel).
What a blessing and a great spiritual heritage! What was the biggest challenge of writing this story?
Sarah: The biggest challenge was staying true to my grandpa’s history and character while crafting a story would readers could track with. I had to change the timeline a bit and move some details around. I also included the modern-day storyline, which is nearly completely fabricated.
Real life doesn’t always lend itself well to the kind of storytelling a novel demands. My creativity often felt shackled when writing the historical storyline as I wanted to be as accurate as possible. Yet, my grandpa couldn’t remember every detail and nuance and at times had trouble putting his experiences into words.
Despite those difficulties, the spirit of the story remains true to your grandpa. Was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?
Sarah: I knew I had to include my grandpa’s infamous ear story. It’s the story of how he cut a man’s ear when he was in barber school. You wouldn’t think that would be funny, but the way he tells it is hilarious.
I heard him tell the story hundreds of times, and it grew more dramatic over the years. At first, the piece of an ear was dime sized. Now it’s up to the size of a half-dollar.
Those are the best kind of stories–over the top and always changing! What deeper question does your novel explore?
Sarah: The heart of New Creations explores what a life well lived looks like. Most of us will live quite ordinary lives. This novel shows how ordinary, flawed, bumbling people can make an extraordinary impact simply by loving the people God puts in our path.
You’ve definitely accomplished your goal in showing this. How do you want this book to resonate with readers?
Sarah: My hope is that New Creations brings readers back to the 1st and 2nd commandments: to love God and to love people. That’s how God defines success.
If this book encourages anyone to love well, or if it brings sweet relief in realizing that they have loved well, and therefore have lived a good life, I’m happy.
And if laughing at my grandpa’s antics helps anyone to also laugh at themselves and give themselves a little more grace, that’s a wonderful takeaway as well.
I can see many readers taking encouragement from this novel about a live well lived. Which of your books is the best introduction to you and your work?
Sarah: That depends on what you’re looking for. My debut novel Mercy Will Follow Me (book 1 in a 3 book series) deals with some tough topics, but it’s a reader favorite. It’s split-time with a slave narrative in the historical storyline. It’s impactful and emotionally resonant.
My Sister in Arms Collection is perfect for someone who enjoys Civil War fiction. These split-time stories have different modern-day storylines, but the historical storylines each feature a secret female Civil War soldier. Whatever It Takes is probably the reader favorite of the 3.
And if you like Time Travel, check out my Time Sailors series with begins with Braving Strange Waters. That series should be read in order, and book 3 (Braving Red Waters) comes out tomorrow (August 26).
Questions about writing
Which books or authors have been most influential for you as a writer? What strikes you most about their work?
Sarah: I have a cliché answer for this one: Francine Rivers. But it was in reading the Mark of the Lion series and Redeeming Love that I first imagined I could write Christian Fiction. I appreciate how her books don’t shy away from tough topics.
That’s a great starting point. Share a little about your novel writing process, and the length of time it takes to complete a book.
Sarah: I’m a plotter who holds those plans loosely. Sometimes my characters go off script, and that’s fine. I usually spend about a month getting to know my characters and threading together a plot before I start writing. I do some research before then and some more along the way.
It takes me about 5 months to write a book and 1 month to revise. Sometimes I write faster, sometimes slower. I’ll be slowing down some in the near future to enjoy my littles before they’re big.
Writing while parenting young ones is a constant challenge in finding balance. Why do you write in your particular genre?
Sarah: I know split-time isn’t for everyone, but I love it. I love reading it and I love writing it. I’m fascinated by how history impacts the present, and how we deal with many of the same struggles our ancestors did, although it may look different. I’m always looking for parallels.
Since I like both the contemporary and historical genres, I find writing split-time a sweet spot. Writing time travel isn’t much different. I still have a contemporary and historical storyline, only with more crossover and a touch of speculative elements. It’s so much fun to write.
I love split-time novels too. Is there any writing advice you wish you’d known 10 or 15 years ago?
Sarah: I wrote my first novel when I was 17 and then wrote 2 others before I transitioned from being a hobby writer to doing this professionally.
When I was hobby writing, I didn’t know about conferences or writer’s groups. I had no idea there was a writing community out there willing to embrace and guide me.
My biggest advice to my younger self would be to get connected. Don’t try to do this alone. Find other writers and dream up stories together.
Great advice! How long have you wanted to be a novelist? Share a bit of your road to publication.
Sarah: I was the kid with notebooks full of stories, but it wasn’t until I read Francine Rivers’ books that I fell in love with Christian Fiction. Still, I didn’t see myself as capable of writing for a living until a high school counselor pulled me into her office with an essay I wrote in her hands.
She told me it’d be a waste of my talent not to pursue writing. Though the road from there to here has been windy with detours, her encouragement put the idea of writing professionally in my head. I’m blown away that I get to do this. It’s truly a dream come true.
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Comment below for a chance to win your choice of an ebook or a paperback—USA only.
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Back to Laura . . . On a similar note . . .
If you like dual timeline fiction about family dynamics in a small town Midwest (Wisconsin) setting, try The Broken Weathervane (launched September 2). Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden. The timeline alternates between 2015 and the 1950s. Check out the reviews and book trailer here.
If you like historical fiction, you might enjoy A Hundred Magical Reasons (launched January 2025). This story spotlights L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, his friendship with a young girl, and his impact through the decades. Set in Holland, Michigan, this dual timeline novel alternates between 1980 and the early 1900s. Read more and watch the book trailer here.
If you like Southern fiction and small town/rural stories about family dynamics and secrets, you might enjoy my novel All That Is Hidden. Set near North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1968, the story spotlights the bond of family and the connections of a tight-knit community. Northern exploitation threatens as a father’s hidden past catches up to him and tests family ties. Learn more and watch the trailer here.
All That Is Hidden is now an audiobook!
I invite you to join my monthly newsletter for writing updates, freebies, and giveaways. Sign up and I’ll send you a prequel and 7 Oz-inspired recipes: StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com
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Sarah Hanks bio:
Sarah Hanks spent a decade delightfully merging her two main passions—writing and equipping children—by writing a variety of Sunday school curricula for churches in her community. She wrote her first novel when she was seventeen and continued to write fiction “on the side” until deciding to pursue writing professionally with Mercy Will Follow Me. She and her husband have ten children of their own, a couple of whom seem to have inherited their mother’s love for playing with words and crafting stories. Though Sarah dreams of a cabin by the beach, the family lives together in beautiful chaos in St. Charles , Missouri. She buys ear plugs in bulk. Learn more on her website.
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Join me next time for celebrating the launch of my new book!
Meanwhile, have you read New Creations or any of Sarah Hanks’ novels or other works of fiction inspired by an author’s family members?
Answer in the comments below for a chance to win your choice of an ebook or a paperback—USA only.
Ever reading,
Laura
Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive a prequel and 7 free Oz-inspired recipes: StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com
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