Sara Dobie Bauer – Light from the Grave

Today, I have bestselling romance author Sara Dobie Bauer in the interview chair. We’re discussing her latest release Light from the Grave, a m/m paranormal romance. Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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I previously interviewed Sara for her last release We Still Live. So I came up with a new batch of questions to ask her.

Sara Dobie Bauer on Light from the Grave:

1. How did you come up with the concept and characters for Light from the Grave?

Sara: This is so nerdy, but I watched the Dune trailer, and there’s this one shot where Timothee Chalamet is walking toward the camera in slow motion with a nose bleed, hair in his face, looking frickin’ BAD ASS … and one of the creepiest scenes from the book just came to me. The rest kind of wrote itself. True, Dylan and Keller existed in many iterations before the final draft, but many thanks to Timothee for, well, existing.

2. What did you enjoy most about writing the novel?

Sara: Weaving my own witchcraft practice into the storyline.

3. What did you least enjoy about writing the novel?

Sara: I wrote it while watching my first dog die. Channelling my grief into the characters was visceral and at times impossible, as I would be crying too hard to see the computer screen. There’s a lot of pain in this novel, and it’s a reflection of my own. The book is actually dedicated to my fur baby, Raylan, who left me way too early.

4. Tell us about your main characters–what do you like most about them?

Sara: Keller is a very dark witch who’s jaded and bored and just sick of serving his purpose as the Zayne coven’s human “weapon.” Dylan is a gay ray of sunshine who turns out to be anything but as he hides deep grief behind his playful demeanour. They find a way to heal each other. My fave thing about Keller is his dark sense of humor. My fave thing about Dylan is his total lack of chill that imbues some great comic relief.

5. Let’s keep this on the main characters. Tell us what you like least about them.

Sara: Well, Keller can be super insensitive, so that’s not good—especially since Dylan needs his help. In regards to Dylan, it’s not something I don’t like necessarily, but it makes me sad that he hides so much of his pain behind an “I’m fine” facade. I mean, I do it too. We all do it. But hidden pain never heals.

6. What can we expect from you in the future?

Sara: Next project is a semi-autobiographical rom-com. We’re gonna get personal, folks!

Sara Dobie Bauer on Writing:

1. What is your writing process? (e.g., researching first, create outlines, character building, etc.)

Sara: Haaaaaa, um, I don’t really have one. I just start writing, and the muse shows me the way. I’m a pantser, not a plotter. Hence several drafts before the final!

2. What is your writing setting? (e.g., loud music, at a café, evening, etc.)

Sara: In silence at my house, probably on the couch and in the morning.

3. What is your writing Kryptonite?

Sara: I hate extensive rewrites, I really do, but my editor Alex is incredible. She might give me a lot to think about and work on, but despite the stress, I’m so thankful for her. My books wouldn’t be the same without her genius feedback.

4. Do you read the reviews for your books? If yes, why? If no, why?

Sara: During the early days after a book’s release, I glance, but I only read the four or five star reviews. When it’s a great review, I’ll pull quotes to use in promo. I staunchly avoid anything below four stars. I’ve found negative feedback to be pretty useless, especially where creativity and mental health are involved.

This or That for Sara:

For each answer you give, explain why you chose “this” or why you chose “that.”

1. Introvert or Extrovert?

Sara: Extroverted introvert. I love chatting with people, being out and about, but after a certain amount of time, I run home and hide in my bedroom. People who meet me would never guess this about me, but it’s true. I can only take so much socializing before I feel like my head’s going to explode.

2. Big advance for you next book but it must meet what the publisher wants or no big advance and writing what you want?

Sara: No big advance and writing what I want. If I don’t write what I want, the project is going to suck, and the reader is going to notice.

3. Would you rather live in your dream home in the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere?

Sara: Northern! Gotta love autumn and winter in the Midwest!

4. Reading: Fiction or Non-Fiction?

Sara: Both!!! Gimme all the books!!!

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Title: Light from the Grave
Series: N/A
Author: Sara Dobie Bauer
Genres: Paranormal M/M romance
Tropes: witches, anti-hero, age gap
Themes: grief, mental health, redemption, family
Release Date: October 24, 2023
Heat Rating: 2 flames
Length: 94 000 words/374 pages
Publisher: Carnation Books

I’m what nightmares are made of, but I’m not sure who’s more dangerous: him or me.

Blurb: In the world of witches, Keller Rex is a legendary monster—a dark sorcerer with a gift for suffering. He has long been the protector of the Zayne coven and their ancestral home in Charleston, South Carolina. When the family matriarch, Vivian Zayne, dies under mysterious circumstances, he is tasked with finding the only person who can open her sealed Book of Shadows: the son no one knew she had.

Dylan Quinn has never bothered to figure out why cats follow him everywhere, but it’s been that way for as long as he can remember. After the unexpected passing of his adoptive mother, he had to make a new home for himself in small-town Ohio. Things have been quiet ever since, but lately, there are strange voices in his dreams and a sense of being watched.

When a striking Southern gent appears in town, Dylan welcomes the distraction. Keller is handsome and charming, but Dylan can tell there’s something else, something eerie about him. And he discovers he’s right, as Keller goes from being Dylan’s seducer… to his abductor.

Now back in Charleston, Dylan’s newfound family is shocked when it’s discovered his magical affinity is for death itself. Despite his fears, he’ll need to learn to control his terrifying powers in order to open the Zayne Book of Shadows. He also needs to keep his coven safe, and time is running out. The estate’s protective wards expire on Halloween, and power-hungry witches from all over are ready to pounce.

While Dylan’s awakening darkness threatens to overwhelm him, Keller finds himself confronted by feelings he thought long dead. Keller will do anything to protect his young necromancer and open Vivian’s Book of Shadows, but the Zaynes are in for a surprise when Dylan resurrects someone he shouldn’t.

Note: It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Dylan stood by his kitchen island drinking a glass of water and froze at the sudden arrival in his home. Keller moved with inhuman speed. He appeared right in front of Dylan, who gasped and dropped his glass, which shattered on the wooden floor at their feet. Taking hold of Dylan’s shirt, Keller shoved the smaller man against the fridge.

“What are you?”

Dylan’s chin trembled. “What?”

Keller clenched his teeth. “What are you?”

“I-I don’t understand, but I’d really like you to leave please.”

Keller let go of Dylan. He chuckled and paced halfway across the small apartment and back. He was tired of playing games, tired of trying to work his magic on someone who seemed impervious to his influence, so Keller chose truth. “Your family is waiting,” he said. “Long story short: your biological mother is dead. She was a bitch who won’t be missed, and there is no time to spare. Several lives depend on you, so we need to go. Now.”

“What the fuck, man?” His words shook. “I don’t know who you think I am, but my biological mother died giving birth to me. That’s why my adopted mom agreed to give me her family name.”

“Zayne,” Keller said.

Dylan took a startled step back and again rammed right into the fridge. “How do you know that?”

“Because your biological mother did not die giving birth to you. She died a week ago.”

“How?”

Keller snorted. “That’s up for debate.”

“I don’t—”

Keller held up a hand between them, a silent but visible order for Dylan to listen. “Your biological mother’s name was Vivian Zayne, and she was a very powerful witch. We, as her coven, didn’t know you existed until the reading of her will. Imagine our surprise.”

Dylan’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You come from a family of witches.”

“Witches aren’t real.”

“Are you sure?”

Dylan didn’t look sure of anything. He looked like a frightened child.

Keller leaned his elbows on the kitchen island. “How long have cats been following you?”

“They’re just … cats,” Dylan said. “They follow everyone.”

“They follow you. How long have they been following you? Your whole life, I assume.”

Dylan glanced at the row of cats watching from his bedroom doorway.

“We call them familiars.” Keller clicked his tongue and stood. “Now, you may continue to have an internal crisis on the drive to Charleston. You’re coming with me. You don’t have a choice.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” He reached for the chain around his neck—a nervous tic Keller had noticed before—but his fingertips found nothing.

With that, Keller leaned his head back and roared with laughter. He didn’t have much time to enjoy his dark amusement though, because even if Dylan didn’t believe in witches, he did believe in that necklace.

When the boy charged for his bedroom, Keller sprung into action. He wrapped his arms around Dylan’s upper body and held him captive against his chest, but Dylan still struggled against him, struggled to reach the necklace Keller saw hanging on the lamp by Dylan’s bed.

Keller spoke with his lips against Dylan’s ear. “All you had to do was wear that necklace, and I couldn’t control you. What a day to forget to put it on, hmm?”

In his arms, Dylan gave up fighting but did tremble with silent tears.

“Shh,” Keller whispered. “I’ll only hurt you if you make me.”

Dylan started shouting. He called out for help, but Keller covered his mouth with his hand and subdued his screams. The dampness of Dylan’s warm breath mixed with the saltwater of his tears against Keller’s palm.

Then, something strange happened. Keller found himself thrown backwards. He landed with a thud against Dylan’s bedroom wall. Dylan was no longer in his arms. Dylan was also no longer screaming. Keller, recovered from the invisible attack, raised his head to find Dylan standing in front of him—Dylan, but not Dylan. His eyes had gone black, just like they had in the coffee shop. Tiny black veins appeared around his eyes and spread down his cheeks.

Keller stared in wonder while cats hissed from Dylan’s windowpane but came no closer. “There you are, gorgeous,” Keller said.

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Bestselling romance author.

Bisexual witch.

Feminist. Pro-choice. Anti-censorship.

Timothee Chalamet freak.

Horror movie aficionado.

Vampire mermaid in a past life.

Sara Dobie Bauer somehow survived her party-hard college years at Ohio University to earn a creative writing degree. She lives with her precious Pit Bull in Northeast Ohio, although she’d really like to live in a Tim Burton film.