What are You Reading? What are You Writing? ep. 291 with Sarah Lauer Nakawatase

It’s Publication Day for Double-Crossing the Border! Award-winning host Karen E. Osborne talks with author Sarah Lauer Nakawatase about the research behind her dual-timeline romantic thriller, the lovers at the heart of the story, the inspiration for her characters, the books she loves, and the writing scholarship she proudly awards to young creatives.

Here’s how one reviewer described this engrossing, well-written novel: “In Double-Crossing the Border, Nakawatase weaves a complex tale of how the search for a lost fortune plays out in Mexico during the revolution and reaches into present time. Some want to keep what they’ve amassed, others want to claim these treasures as their own, some seek love and security, and some just want to survive.”

In this conversation, Sarah shares the real-life experiences and extensive research that shaped her thrilling, emotionally rich dual-timeline story.

Watch or Listen. Enjoy and Share!

✍️ Author Bio — Sarah Lauer Nakawatase

Sarah lives by the beach with her forever husband, three children, and one beloved chicken. Family hikes, Little League games, and big family dinners keep her smiling. Her spice rack occupies twelve square feet! In her twenties, she started an agave farm in Jalisco, Mexico with her first husband—lending rich, accurate detail to Double-Crossing the Border. As a teen she worked as a dairy farmer, an experience that informs her writing of Southern Souls. Sarah also supports her community with an annual creative writing scholarship to encourage young writers.

🎙️ Host Bio — Karen E. Osborne

Karen E. Osborne is an award-winning novelist who writes about strong, complex women in family dramas, murder mysteries, and historical fiction. She hosts the author-interview series What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing?—a show that highlights the journeys, craft, passion, and reading lives of today’s most interesting writers.

❓ FAQ

Q: What is Double-Crossing the Border about?

A: It’s a romantic thriller spanning two timelines—Mexico during the revolution and the present day—centered around a lost treasure, survival, love, and high emotional stakes.

Q: Is the dual-timeline historically based?

A: Yes. Sarah conducted extensive historical research and also drew from personal experience living and farming agave in Jalisco, Mexico.

Q: What inspired Sarah to write the book?

A: Her years in Mexico, her fascination with family legacy, and the emotional tension between love, danger, loyalty, and survival.

Q: What else has Sarah written?

A: She is also the author of Southern Souls, which draws on her teen years as a dairy farmer.

Q: What is Sarah's writing scholarship?

A: She offers a yearly creative writing scholarship to support emerging young writers in her community.

Q: Who is this interview for?

A: Fans of dual-timeline fiction, historical romance, thrillers, Mexican history, and beautifully written character-driven stories.