Interview & Giveaway: Fair Weather Enemies by Sawyer North

Hello, dear readers! Today on the blog I am happy to share my interview with Sawyer North! He is currently on blog tour for his debut Historical Romance, Fair Weather Enemies! I hope you enjoy getting to know Sawyer and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card.



Hello Sawyer and welcome to Passages to the Past! Thanks so much for stopping by today to discuss Fair Weather Enemies!

To begin, can you please tell us a little about yourself and your writing?

I am an avid lifelong reader of science fiction, fantasy, and general literature, but have always preferred stories with a romantic subplot. Despite that preference, I can’t recall having read a strictly romance novel until three and a half years ago. Then I fell down the rabbit hole of historical romance and can’t get enough of it. Between 2010 and 2016, I self-published several science fiction novels. Three years ago, I felt compelled to write historical romance despite my better judgement, and produced four manuscripts before one sold. As a writer, I am a plotter to the point where I need to be careful not to over-plot. I love a good twist, and always have at least one for the reader near the end. I also enjoy writing banter, so expect plenty of that.

What inspired you to write Fair Weather Enemies?

Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes. I also love puzzles and road trips. All that came together in Fair Weather Enemies. Before developing the outline, I spent considerable time inventing a road trip and writing the rhyming letters that drive the hunt.

What was your favorite scene to write?

Writing banter is the most fun. Early in the trip, Jane and Adam spar verbally while riding in a wagon carrying swine. This is the first scene where their banter shifts from purely adversarial to something respectful – and interested.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The scene where Jane and Adam unpack the events of the day they met as children was difficult – the emotion, the pain, the epiphany, the healing. Pulling the characters through that scene was a chore.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Since I was 14 years old when a teacher planted the notion within me. However, it took me 25 years to act on that impulse.

What does your daily writing routine look like?

I have a job outside the home, so writing is my second job. As such, I write during evenings and on weekends. When I have an outline ready to go, I promise myself to write at least 1000 words per day. Some days, writing is a joy; others a chore. Nevertheless, 1000 words per day!

Do you have any advice for aspiring Historical Romance writers?

My advice for Historical Romance writers is to do your homework. Readers of Historical Romance are astute. Although they will accept a wild plot, clear historical errors will turn them off. First, though, read a lot of what you want to write to understand the bar you must clear. Find a community of Historical Romance writers if you can.

What has been your greatest challenge as a writer? Have you been able to overcome it?

Male romance writers are rare, so I don’t have a model to follow. Thankfully, I have a group of female romance writers who have been very kind and considerate mentors for me.

Who are your writing inspirations?

I’m so new to the genre that I’m still catching up. My first inspirations were Sarah M. Eden and Tessa Dare. Sarah Eden writes well-rounded character buried in interesting plots. Tessa Dare is the queen of wit and banter. I attempt to emulate them both.

What are three things people may not know about you?

Where to begin. My day job is VP of Engineering at a tech company that makes wireless chips and software. I married my college sweetheart and we just celebrated 33 years together. My daughter and I run Spartan races together – it’s our father-daughter thing, and I have to work hard to keep up with her.

What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

I am drawn to historical romance because I love watching characters who are subject to often repressive rules overcome those limitations to find love. Beyond that, I just love history. We humans are the sum of our history, and exploring history helps me understand who we are, for better and for worse.

What historical time period do you gravitate towards the most with your personal reading?

I alternate between Regency/Victorian romance (1800 – 1890) and far-future science fiction.

What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Since writing is my second job, I like writing when I’m not writing. That said, I live in Austin, which is a very cool town with an incredible array of things to see, eat, and hear. Just this week, we attended a Yola concert at an outdoor venue under a full moon while eating bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

Lastly, what are you working on next?

I just signed a three-book deal with Entangled Publishing. The first manuscript is effectively finished, and is a Pygmalion story loaded with banter. The second and third are still in development. I have another manuscript out to a potential agent, about a blind lighthouse keeper who pulls a baron from the sea.

They sound amazing! Congratulations on the new book deal, and thank you for spending time with us today!


Fair Weather Enemies by Sawyer North

Publication Date: February 10, 2020
Entangled Publishing/Scandalous
Paperback & eBook; 270 Pages

Genre: Historical Romance


The Hancocks and Ashfords have had a long-standing feud between their families long before Miss Jane Hancock couldn't stand the sight of gentleman farmer Adam Ashford. But after both families fall on hard times and an unscrupulous creditor forces Jane and Adam to sign a devil's bargain, they'll finally understand the true meaning of keeping your enemies close at hand.

The terms of this bargain? Locate a lost treasure shrouded in deception and mystery.

The catch? Only one can claim it to win...the loser is left to ruin.

As Jane and Adam embark on a trek throughout England they plan to hate their adversary, no matter how attractive, generous, and kind they are.

Sometimes, plans change...

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

About the Author

After self-publishing science fiction novels over a period of years, I made the truly odd move into historical romance. Although romance is a strong thread in nearly all my works, I came to straight-up, nothing-but-romance only after turning fifty. Since then, I am plagued by the question, “What took me so long?” My awakening began rather innocuously when I casually watched the 2015 version of Poldark. Before I knew, I was falling headlong into the abyss of historical romance and read fifteen such novels over a three-month span. However, no number could sufficiently scratch my itch for more, so I did what any writer would do and began constructing stories of my own. In April of 2019, I received my first contract with Entangled Publishing.

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Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, February 10
Review at Historical Romance Lover

Tuesday, February 11
Review at Gwendalyn's Books

Wednesday, February 12
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit

Saturday, February 15
Review at Historical Graffiti

Sunday, February 16
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Tuesday, February 18
Interview at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, February 19
Excerpt at Chicks, Rogues and Scandals

Saturday, February 22
Excerpt at The Lit Bitch

Monday, February 24
Review at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, February 25
Excerpt at What Is That Book About

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on February 25th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open to US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

Fair Weather Enemies


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