Tully Talks Storytelling With . . . Sarah Peachey!

As often is the case in modern times, Sarah Peachey and I met online. In 2019, while knee-deep in my own book publishing journey, I stumbled upon a community of military spouse writers on Instagram.

It was such a joy to discover this like-minded group of storytellers who had walked similar paths to myself, individuals who, like me, had chosen words as a way to share their experiences with the wider world.

Author, Sarah Peachy

One of these fellow wordsmiths was Sarah Peachey. What struck me most about Sarah was her desire to tell the unvarnished truth about our military lifestyle.

In the years that followed, Sarah and I maintained our virtual connection, supporting each other’s work, celebrating each other’s wins. When she asked me to be an early reviewer of her debut novel, The Whispers of War, I immediately said yes.

A deftly written novel, Whispers examines the nuances of one military family, weaving the beliefs of an anti-war military child with the duty-bound life of her Army father.

Peachey breathes life into these complicated relationships and brings readers into our world.

Of course, you might be reading this and thinking, “Peachey . . . why does that name sound familiar?” Well, for those who have followed Mission: Milspouse for a while, dating back to its original iteration as the Army Wife Network (AWN), you will recognize Sarah as one of its long-time contributors.

Originally assigned to cover AWN for the Fort Polk Guardian, Sarah has been a part of this uplifting community for years—you can read a sampling of her work on the site.

So, with all sincerity, it is truly my honor to turn the Tully Talks Storytelling spotlight onto Sarah:

Why do you write?

I write because I was once a child lost in words on a page by authors who made me feel seen, heard, and understood. And I hope to do the same for readers.

When did you start writing?

I remember writing my first short stories in elementary school. They weren’t assignments—just ways to pass the time over summer or holiday breaks. There was one about magical paints, another about a hidden dragon, and even a few fan fictions when I was a teen. When I finally settled on writing as a career path, that really fueled me, and it became something I did as a career and for fun.

Writers are usually bookworms, so I have to ask: What book made you a reader?

Hands down, the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. I think it was the first series where I could claim I’d read every single book. I saw a lot of myself in Ramona!

What book made you a writer?

I don’t think any book made me a writer, but an article in either Glamour or Cosmopolitan magazine absolutely did. One edition when I was in college featured women who were working in male-dominant or dangerous fields, and they featured a war correspondent. That was the moment I changed my major to journalism. While I never went that route with me reporting career, I did write for and about the military—and still do.

Favorite place to write?

My home office. Because it doubles as my workspace, it has everything I could possibly need. One of my favorite parts about the room is my gallery wall, filled with quotes and pictures for inspiration.

Favorite time of day to write?

While I used to be a night writer, I became a late-morning writer a few years ago. It gives me enough time for the coffee to start working and get me energized. I especially like to write after I’ve been on a walk.

Favorite part of the writing process?

Editing! I find drafting to be a struggle, mostly because a blank page is daunting. But once the words are down, I love the brain power required to nip and tuck scenes and chapters into the perfect order and refine the prose.

Favorite book about writing?

Negotiating with the Dead by Margaret Atwood. Many writers struggle with the idea of “what can I offer,” and Atwood, a firmly established author, offers such valuable insight. I highly recommend it.

Favorite drink while writing?

Usually something hot, like tea or coffee. Since I tend to write in the late morning, I often reach
for herbal tea.

While writing, music or no music?

Absolutely music! I can’t write in silence, but I also can’t write to music that has lyrics. My favorite composers are Joel Sunny, Ludovico Einaudi, Max Richter, and Florian Christl. I find music helps me get in the right mindset to write, and I can’t get words down without it.

Best feedback you’ve received about your writing?

When I was querying, I had an agent say my storytelling skills are solid and I know how to use emotion. It didn’t lead to an offer, but that gave me an extra boost of confidence.

What piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Get the words down on the page, one word at a time, and don’t worry about how good they are. There’s a quote attributed to Jodi Picoult that says, “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”

You’ll reread your work countless times, so don’t worry about how it comes out of your brain on the first try. Once you have a good idea of where your story is going, you can nip and tuck and perfect.

Finally, what is your favorite military spouse-authored book?

This is hard because there are so many talented military spouse authors out there. One I find myself going back to, though, is Tif Marcelo’s In a Book Club Far Away. It touches on who we are as military spouses, but it goes so much deeper than that into covering the beauty of female friendship, love, and supporting one another.

Sarah’s debut novel The Whispers of War is available online or wherever books are sold. You can keep up with Sarah, like I do, via her website, Facebook, or Instagram.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are so very proud of Sarah and her work with Army Wife Network, Mission:Milspouse, and now as a published author with more novels to come in the future!