“I especially want to offer characters who feel like Texas sunsets—deeply familiar and yet new every time.“
— Sarah Damoff
A member of the Writers’ League since 2022, Sarah lives in the Dallas area.
Scribe: Welcome, writer! Tell us — what do you write?
Sarah Damoff: Literary/book club fiction.
Scribe: If you could choose one author to blurb your book, who would it be, and what would you want it to say?
SD: Marilynne Robinson– I keep coming back to this question but can’t seem to put words into Marilynne Robinson’s mouth. I will only say that if she found anything in my work similar to anything in hers, then my eyes might turn into stars.
Scribe: You have one book you’re allowed to push onto all of your friends, and they’re forced to read it to remain your friend — which one would you choose?
SD: The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver because she so skillfully weaves the personal/relational with the historic/political, presenting numerous viewpoints through fully realized characters. The line level beauty and gentle insights are breathtaking.
Scribe: Tell us your WLT story.
SD: I recently discovered WLT through one of the many writing podcasts in which I’ve been immersing myself. I’m thankful to learn from the wise and encouraging WLT community and I look forward to upcoming events.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
SD: I hope to regularly contribute honest, nuanced, and inspiring stories to our broader literary and cultural conversations. I especially want to offer characters who feel like Texas sunsets—deeply familiar and yet new every time.
One rejection I received said, “This is some of the most technically beautiful writing I’ve seen, but—like much literary fiction—all it is is beautiful.” While I’ve certainly endeavored to take the note and add layers to my writing, I’m also committed to beauty for its own sake and will not abandon that.
Scribe: Here at the WLT, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one book that has come out within the past few years that you couldn’t put down? (Bonus points if the book is Texas related!)
SD: Time Is A Mother by Ocean Vuong (Most recent Texas-based read was Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore, published 2020).
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
SD: I am currently a finalist for a flash prose prize and am considering several offers for my debut novel—a multigenerational family saga set in Texas. I’m a Dallas native and social worker by day.
