Interview With Teen-Ager, Award-Winning YA & Fantasy Author, Sara Fanfarillo

 

NYC Big Book Award - Distinguished Favorite 2025 - Fantasy
International Impact Book Awards 2025 - Fantasy
Regal Summit Book Award 2025 - Young Adult

1.       What inspired you to write this book? The idea for Everlasting grew from a fascination with the concept of permanence. The emotions, memories, and connections that stay with us even as everything else changes. I started with that single thought and slowly built a story around it, wondering what truly lasts forever and how people hold onto certain moments or relationships long after time has passed. At first, I only had a basic idea of the world and themes, but as I kept writing, the characters and conflicts developed naturally and became far more emotionally layered than I originally imagined. I was especially drawn to themes of destiny, loss, identity, and the struggle between holding onto the past and learning to move forward. Over time, Everlasting became a story not just about permanence, but about the emotional impact people leave on each other and the memories that continue shaping us long after moments are gone.  

2.       What exactly is it about - and who is it written for? At its core, Everlasting is a fantasy novel centered on identity, emotional resilience, and the search for belonging. It follows characters who are drawn into dangerous and uncertain situations, where they must face not only external threats but also their own inner struggles. As the story unfolds, they are forced to confront doubts about who they are, where they fit in, and how much they can endure. The internal struggles are just as important as the external events, shaping how the characters grow and the choices they make along the way.  The book is designed for readers who enjoy fantasy with emotional depth and strong character development. While it takes place in a fantastical setting, its themes remain grounded in relatable human experiences like trust, and the need for connection.  

3.       What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope readers walk away feeling emotionally connected to the story and its characters. More than anything, I want the novel to encourage reflection on change, self-discovery, and the idea that growth is often uncomfortable before it becomes meaningful. Through the characters’ journeys and struggles, I hope readers are reminded that transformation rarely happens easily, but it often leads to something more honest and lasting. If Everlasting stays with readers after they finish it, if it lingers in their thoughts or makes them see parts of themselves in a new way, then I would feel I’ve achieved what I set out to do.  

4.       How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The title comes from one of the novel’s central emotional ideas: the tension between what fades and what endures. I kept returning to that contrast throughout the writing process, and Everlasting felt like the most fitting word to express it. It reflects the idea that while certain moments, or even versions of ourselves, are temporary, things like memories, emotional truths, and inner transformations stay with us no matter how much time passes. This concept runs in parallel with every event in the story, particularly those connected to Kendall, the protagonist, whose journey continually reflects this balance between loss and persistence. For the cover, I wanted something visually striking but also emotionally suggestive, an image that hints at mystery, transformation, and the tone readers will experience inside the book, without fully revealing its story at first glance.  

5.       What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Don’t underestimate the value of consistency. Inspiration matters, but discipline is what actually carries you through to a finished book. Showing up regularly, even on the days it feels difficult or uninspired, builds momentum that motivation alone can’t sustain. It’s also important to give yourself permission to write imperfectly at first. Early drafts are meant to be rough. They exist to be shaped, questioned, and improved. Real progress comes through revision and persistence, not from waiting until everything feels perfect before you begin.  Most importantly, trust your voice even when it feels uncertain. Doubt is a normal part of the process, but your perspective is what makes the story worth telling.  

6.       What trends in the book world do you see - and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Readers today seem increasingly drawn to emotionally authentic storytelling and immersive worlds that balance escapism with genuine personal connection. There’s a clear interest in books that not only build rich settings but also explore relatable inner lives, stories that feel both expansive and intimate at the same time.  Online platforms have changed how books are discovered and shared, giving authors and readers more direct interaction than ever before. Word-of-mouth now spreads through communities that form quickly and globally, which has shifted a lot of visibility away from traditional gatekeeping and toward reader-driven momentum. Looking ahead, I think publishing will continue moving toward stronger reader communities, broader representation, and more hybrid storytelling that blends genre with emotional realism. The industry feels like it’s becoming more flexible in the kinds of stories it embraces, and more responsive to how readers actually engage with books today.  

7.       Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Yes, especially on an emotional level. While the events in Everlasting are entirely fictional, many of the feelings behind them came from personal reflection and from observing experiences related to growth and identity, both in myself and in others. I think writing becomes strongest when the emotional truth feels real, even within a completely imagined world. That sense of authenticity helps ground the story, allowing the characters’ journeys to feel more lived-in and relatable, even when the setting is fantastical.  

8.       How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I’d describe my writing style as atmospheric, introspective, and emotionally focused. I enjoy building immersive fantasy settings, but I’m equally invested in what’s happening beneath the surface. How characters think, feel, and change over time. For me, the emotional journey is just as important as the external plot, and I try to let those two elements shape each other throughout the story.  In terms of influences, I’m drawn to writers and books that leave a lasting impact long after finishing them. Stories where the characters stay with you because of what they’ve endured and how they’ve evolved. I’d say I’m inspired by works that blend rich world-building with deep emotional storytelling, where fantasy or setting enhances rather than overshadows the human core of the narrative.  

9.       What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? One of the biggest challenges was writing a debut novel while still young but carrying a big dream for the book. There was a lot to learn at once: storytelling, structure, pacing, and simply how to stay committed to a long-term creative project. Balancing that ambition with everyday life made the process feel intense at times, especially when the vision for the story was larger than what I initially had the experience or tools to fully execute. It also meant growing into the work as I was writing it. As the story developed, so did my understanding of what I wanted it to be, which often led to revisiting, refining, and reworking ideas along the way. That process wasn’t always straightforward, but it taught me patience and persistence, and helped shape both the book and my development as a writer.  

10.   If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Because Everlasting combines fantasy, emotional depth, and personal reflection in a way that feels both immersive and meaningful. It’s a story about transformation, identity, and finding light in uncertainty, set within a world that invites readers to escape while still feeling emotionally grounded. At its core, the book focuses on characters who are learning to navigate change, make sense of themselves, and keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear. I wanted it to feel like more than just a journey through a fantasy world. I wanted it to offer moments of recognition, where readers might see parts of their own experiences reflected back at them.  It’s the kind of book that stays with you a little longer than expected...like a thought you didn’t plan to have but somehow keeps showing up anyway!  

About The Author: Sara Fanfarillo is an author whose passion for storytelling began at a young age and quickly developed into a published literary journey. She released her debut fantasy novel Everlasting shortly before turning 18. The book later received multiple accolades, including recognition as a Distinguished Favorite in the 2025 New York City Big Book Award, Winner of the International Impact Book Awards, and the Regal Summit Book Award. Inspired by emotion-driven storytelling, and themes of destiny and transformation, she creates immersive fantasy worlds that blend introspection with adventure. For more information, please see:  www.sarafanfarillo.com

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 6,400,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum