Who: Sara Green or @saragreen303
Where: Lyon, France.
What: Sara Green has written a novel, “Blackbird”, to be published in September 2014 by Winslet Press. She is currently working on her second novel and has also written several picture books for children.
In Her Words:
What do you consider most valuable about your time at La Muse?
Having the time and space to do only what I wanted and needed to do: write, think, sleep, read, walk. With a husband, three children and my own business back in the real world, being able to think first and only about myself was a precious and rare thing. It freed me to produce what I think is some good work – the words seemed to pour out of me.
Tell us, in a sentence or two, about the project you were focused on while at La Muse.
I came to La Muse to structure, research and – maybe – begin writing my second novel, provisionally entitled “The Story of My Life” (which it is not, by the way). After three weeks, to my great delight, I had written the first seven chapters - the first major phase of the book - and felt ready to go back to my busy life and find windows to keep on writing.
What advice would you give future residents?
Read and re-read the guidelines before you go and understand that La Muse is located in a beautiful, but isolated village. This is not about socialising and making friends (although of course that may happen as an added bonus), it’s about you and your artistic or personal project. You can spend a lot of time on your own if you want to. You will only be able to spend time in other people’s company if they want to too. That’s an important difference, and one that definitely suited me. Don’t be scared or feel inadequate: John and Kerry are wonderful, supportive hosts who are there for you and your project.
Finally, Sara Green, your three French words to describe La Muse?
Calme, liberté, partage …