1--What is the title of your latest release?
My newest release is called THE CHEMISTRY OF LOVE!
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Nerdy/fangirl cosmetic chemist Anna is desperately in love with her boss and can't figure out how to get his attention. Enter his dashing, handsome half-brother and CEO Marco, who offers to help by fake dating her (given that his brother is so competitive with him). Anna agrees and despite her best intentions, starts to fall for Marco.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I set a lot of my books in Southern California, because that’s where I grew up. I chose it this time because the Los Angeles area has a lot of cosmetic companies. I also knew there would be some scenes that took place in the snow (in Vermont) and I wanted the heroine to be from a place where she had never actually seen it before.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I absolutely would, although we might drive each other a little bonkers. Of all the heroines I’ve written, Anna is the most like me. She thinks like me, has some of the same obsessions that I do, a lot of my own personal insecurities and flaws, my awkwardness, etc. I usually write heroines that are not like me, so she was fun to write!
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Smart, awkward, and fangirl.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned SO MUCH about cosmetic chemistry. I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about it, and I learned a lot! I was fortunate enough to talk to an actual cosmetic chemist and she taught me what it’s like to be in a lab and to do the actual work of creating makeup and skin care. She graciously allowed me to include quite a few of her real-life experiences in the book.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I go. When I start my writing day, I begin it by editing whatever I wrote the day before which is a good way to get me back into the story. And when I’m done writing, I’m done with the editing too, which is nice.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Dove ice cream bars are my biggest indulgence and I eat them more than I probably should.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
It’s my bedroom. I write in my bed and I have blackout curtains. It’s the only way to get the quiet that I need to write. My husband works from home as well and has a lot of meetings, so the bedroom is where I’m most comfortable and is far away from the noise!
10--Who is an author you admire?
There are so many that it would be hard to choose just one. I know Nora Roberts probably feels like a copout, but I really do admire her for what she’s accomplished, how prolific she is, how well she writes, and how she’s built up and given back to the community where she raised her family AND the support she gives to the romance industry. She’s a legend!
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
It was a Harlequin that I read in high school. I couldn’t tell you the name or the author, but it was about a Greek shipping magnate who is out to destroy his enemy, but he falls in love with the enemy’s red-haired daughter. They hated each other for most of the book but when they fell in love? I remember internally gushing, “They love each other? What?” and being so happy about that ending. It’s the reason I write romance. That happily ever after is THE BEST.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
When I got “the call,” it was pretty unusual. I started off with a couple of historical romances for a small niche regional publisher, and the entire experience was awful. I didn’t even get an advance. I wanted to publish with a big publisher, but I felt like I didn’t have the kind of “high concept” books they were looking for. I found out about indie publishing, which was like a revelation, but couldn’t figure out how to help readers find the YA book I published. I figured out my goals and one of them was to be published with Montlake, which is Amazon’s romance house. So I sat down and worked on a novel and the day I finished, Amazon announced a program called Kindle Scout (like “American Idol” but for books). I entered and was one of the first winners. The person running the program asked me why I’d entered, and I told her my dream was to be with Montlake someday. Next thing I know, I’m on the phone with the editorial director of Montlake. I assumed it was a networking, foot in the door kind of conversation, but at the end of it she told me she was going to offer me a two-book contract. I was in shock, because things don’t usually work like that. But I happily accepted and I’ve been with them ever since!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I really love romantic comedies (which is why I write them) and chick lit. I also really love YA fantasy, especially romances. I will read in pretty much any genre though, with a couple of small exceptions.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
That is impossible to answer. There are way too many—I am a big movie buff. I can tell you that one of my romantic favorites is a kind of obscure one called “Mad About Mambo.” It’s about an Irish kid who wants to be a soccer star and finds out his favorite Brazilian player credits his moves to being able to samba. He joins a ballroom class and a long-haired Keri Russell ends up being his partner. I love Irish humor, I love dancing in movies, and I love longing/angst and this movie has it all in spades.
15--What is your favorite season?
Another hard one for me, because I love all the season changes except for summer (summer can go away. I hate the heat). But if I have to pick one, it would probably be autumn. I love how it gets cooler in the fall and leaves change colors and I can wear a long cardigan/duster that makes me feel like a fantasy character when I go to the store.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I’m a very low-key kind of person. I’m happy to have a cake and a couple of presents and my family around me.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Both were done by Rian Johnson, so a movie I’d recommend is “Glass Onion” and a TV show is “Poker Face” (on Peacock). He’s such a brilliant writer and there’s a reason they keep nominating his writing for Academy Awards. Plus, he’s a great human being, too.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
American. I’m a very picky eater (some sensory issues) and going out to eat can be challenging for me sometimes. I wish I had a more adventurous palate and was able to enjoy a wider variety of foods!
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I love to read, to watch TV and/or movies, I will sometimes play videogames, I love taking a long bath, doing cross stitch, etc. I don’t seem to have a lot of free time, though. Especially when a book is due.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
My next book is called THE HOLLYWOOD JINX and it’s about a small town putting out a viral request for a movie star to come to their festival to increase tourism, and he accepts! And the temporary leader of the town is called on to keep an eye on him, which she doesn’t want to do, but doesn’t have much of a choice. Shenanigans and romance ensue from there!
True love requires a little research and development in a funny, heart-racing romance by Sariah Wilson, the bestselling author of The Paid Bridesmaid.
How can Anna Ellis, a geeky, brilliant, and hopelessly smitten cosmetic chemist possibly win over Craig Kimball, the man of her dreams—who also happens to be her boss? The answer is Craig’s empathetic (and handsome) CEO half-brother, Marco. The makeup mogul knows Craig for the ridiculously competitive rival he is. Whatever Marco has, Craig wants. That can be Anna, if she’s game to play.
All Anna and Marco have to do is pretend they’re falling in love and let the rumors begin. If the experiment in attraction works, a jealous Craig will swoop in and give Anna her happily ever after—if it weren’t for one hitch in the plan. There’s more to Marco than meets the eye. With every fake date, Anna’s feelings are starting to become dizzyingly real.
Blame it on chemistry. It’s unpredictable, exciting, and occasionally combustible. If Anna and Marco are really falling in love, who are they to argue with science?
Romance Contemporary [Montlake, On Sale: February 1, 2023, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781542039246 / ]
Funny, Flirty, Feel-Good Romance
Sariah Wilson is the author of THE CHEMISTRY OF LOVE (February 1, 2023; Montlake). A passionate believer in happily-ever-afters, Sariah and her own soulmate live in Utah with their four children and the two family cats. Her belief in true love has inspired many other standalone novels including CINDER-NANNY (2022), ROOMMAID (2020), THE SEAT FILLER (2021) and THE PAID BRIDESMAID (2022), and several bestselling romance series, including End of the Line (THE FRIEND ZONE, JUST A BOYFRIEND); Lovestruck (#STARSTRUCK, #MOONSTRUCK, #AWESTRUCK); Ugly Stepsisters (THE UGLY STEPSISTER STRIKES BACK; PROMPOSAL), and Royals of Monterra (ROYAL DATE, ROYAL CHASE, ROYAL GAMES, ROYAL DESIGN). You can connect with Sariah online at her website.
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