Six Questions with Sarah Hovorka

Sarah Hovorka is the author of picture books, novels, and short stories for children. In addition to writing, Sarah works in the public sector and spends her free time reading, homeschooling, and playing video and board games with her husband and three sons in California. Visit her website to learn more about her, her books, and her blog. Or, connect with her on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram or

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1. Do you ever struggle to come up with your next project? Or do you have lots of ideas and find it challenging to focus on one or two?

I have too many ideas. If an idea really grips me, I usually start the manuscript right away. Otherwise, I list all my ideas in an Excel spreadsheet. If the idea continues to root in my brain, I’ll add notes to the spreadsheet. The ideas that I keep coming back to over and over again are the ones I decide to pursue.

2. How do you know your idea will make a good book?

I feel confident in an idea if I can think of a good blurb or tagline pretty easily. That lets me know I’ve hit on what the meat of the story is or what is most memorable.

3. Do you every get stuck creatively? If so, how do you get unstuck?

Yes, I sometimes get stuck. I feel like it’s usually because, after several drafts, I’ve developed tunnel vision on what my book should be. I find that getting a fresh perspective can help with this, so I’ll send the draft off to critique partners.

4. Where did you get the idea for this new book, Unicycle Dad? What was your inspiration?

When I sold my first book and excitedly called my dad to share the news, I told him that book was partially based on my own experiences. My dad, always a jokester, suggested I write a book about him riding the unicycle. So, I did! That sparked the original idea, but the meat of the story, which is about much more than riding a unicycle, was inspired by all the best things about my dad that come to mind when I think about my childhood.

5. Was this always the title for this project? 

Unicycle Dad was always the title. It popped into my head right along with the idea, actually, and the rest fell into place. I think the title will intrigue readers, and it promises a fun angle on a father-centric story.

6. If you read this book to a room filled with kids, what message would you want them to leave with?

That trying your best is a worthy journey in itself, even if you don’t meet your original goal. And I’d like them to reflect on their own parents and the struggles and achievements they face.

Six Questions blog is booking traditionally published picture book and middle-grade creators for Fall 2024 through Spring 2025. If you're interested, please email mary@boonewrites.com