‘Glass Across the Sea’ Author Q&A with Sara Ella

Once upon a time, Sara Ella brought dreams to life as a Disney cast member, wishing for the day she’d find her prince and live in a castle of her own. Now she spends her days homeschooling her three Jedi in training, braving the Arizona summers, and reminding her superhero husband that it’s almost Christmas (even if it’s only January). Sara is the award-winning author of The Wonderland Trials, Coral, and the Unblemished trilogy. She is old enough for fairy tales and believes happily ever after is never far away.

FF: What inspired the story in Glass Across the Sea?
I have always felt drawn to the story of Cinderella. Ever After is my favorite film of all time, with Disney’s live-action Cinderella coming in a close second. But I didn’t set out to write Glass Across the Sea as a retelling of the girl who lost her glass slipper—not initially.

In 2022, I pitched several Cinderella-inspired ideas to my publisher, including one that involved alternate dimensions and another set in a 1980s high school. Suffice it to say, those stories never made it past the idea stage.

After a bit of regrouping, I set Cinderella aside and pitched a fantasy novel inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo. A tale of revenge and betrayal and ultimately forgiveness. I pictured the story more clearly than any idea I’d ever pitched.

But as I sat down to write, something else emerged. Something a bit softer, but still with its heartbreaks, darkness, and challenges. The longer I wrote, the more I realized I was creating a story inspired by my love for Cinderella after all. Count is still in there, of course. You’ll find hints of him lurking around a few corners. But in the end, Cinderella’s themes took center stage.

Glass Across the Sea is a journey of courage and kindness and persevering in the face of adversity. And that’s what I’ve always loved most about Cinderella as a character—she didn’t let her circumstances or abuse turn her hard. She stayed the kind, gentle, and gracious girl that she was. She forgave those who returned her kindness with cruelty, and she found her happily ever after.

FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
Noelle Perrault is a glassmaker’s daughter and peasant girl from the countryside. Dante Marin is a prince torn between his longing for the sea and his desire to lead his realm and kingdom into a new era. The pair have been dear friends since childhood, and over time that friendship has blossomed into the hope for something more. While romance is not the central plot of Glass Across the Sea, Noelle and Dante’s love story is perhaps my favorite side quest.

Though they both come from very different worlds—one common and one royal—they share a desire to find a cure for the mysterious curse that has befallen those they love. Connected by the past but forced apart in the present, Noelle and Dante must unlock the secrets hidden within their favorite childhood fables. If they don’t, they may lose all hope, and each other, for good.

FF: Which character surprised you the most?
The characters who surprised me most were King Edmond and Lady Charmagne Duval. The side characters are usually the ones who tend to follow paths I didn’t anticipate. They both have a couple of point-of-view chapters, and I so enjoyed diving a bit deeper into their motivations and the ghosts that haunt their pasts. You won’t find spoilers here, but I will say I am a firm believer that everyone needs the chance at a redemption story. Not all characters welcome that chance, but the chance should be there just the same.

FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
Jesus used stories to convey truth. The Bible is full of stories. I think we are all storytellers at heart, because we were created in the image of the original Storyteller. We may not all tell stories through written words, but we are all telling stories, because each of us is living the story God planned for us.

We were created for relationship—with one another and with God. The best stories show relationships and the impact they carry, as well as the power they have to change us—for better or for worse. We see this when Samwise Gamgee carries Frodo up the final steps to Mount Doom. We see it when Aslan lays down his life for Edmund Pevensie. We even see it when Anakin Skywalker, wrought with fear, finally gives himself over to the Dark Side.

When authors use stories to convey truth, we are simply following an example as old as time itself. Truth often carries a deeper and more lasting impression when shown in story form. It’s incredibly powerful to witness Aslan’s sacrifice, to see how he gives his life in place of Edmund, despite Edmund’s poor heart posture. We remember Sam’s love for Frodo when we see it take action. We feel the heartbreak over Anakin’s terrible choices as we watch him fall prey to his own fear.

In the end, Jesus offered us the ultimate happily ever after when He showed us His love through death on the cross. Truth is so powerful in story form because we were first introduced to truth through the greatest Story ever told.

FF: What can readers expect from the rest of this series?
Without giving too much away, the rest of the series will further explore the other three realms within the world of Allumeria. We will see more nods to beloved classic tales, and new point-of-view characters will explore the secrets behind The Lamplighter Parables, the Vestiges, and the Firefly. I’ve left some hints in Glass Across the Sea as to which story has inspired Book 2. I’ll leave it at that. Happy Easter egg hunting, readers!

FF: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Research is one of my favorite aspects of fiction writing, especially when it comes to retellings. I love learning things I never knew about stories I’ve always loved. Though I was very familiar with Cinderella and The Count of Monte Cristo, I still learned many things I did not know about these classic stories. For example, various cultures have their own versions of “The Little Cinder Girl” (as it’s referred to in the opening scene of Ever After). The classic version that inspired me most was Charles Perrault’s French folktale known as “The Little Glass Slipper,” as readers may notice simply based on the name of Noelle’s father in Glass Across the Sea.

Of course, there’s a bit of the Brothers Grimm in there, and a dash of Disney too. My favorite podcast is one I always turn to for comparing and contrasting classics with more modern versions of familiar stories. The Cinema Story Origins podcast with Paul J. Hale is a must-listen if you enjoy this sort of content. Mr. Hale spends a great deal of time doing the research for me, and all I have to do is take notes.

For the glassmaking aspect of my novel, I had the absolute pleasure of watching a real-life glassmaker in action at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom several years ago. The real-life glassmaker’s name also happened to be Charles, which only solidified my using that as a character name. He let me ask questions, and I took many notes. When I returned home, I watched a few seasons of a glassmaking competition called Blown Away, and I continue to be amazed by this incredible (and sometimes dangerous) art form.

Finally, a prominent part of my storyworld is the fact that it’s inspired by (not based on) 17th century France. I often found myself going down the rabbit hole of researching French words and creating mashups to make new one. For example, the realm of Lumiverre is a mix of the French words for “light” (lumière) and “glass” (verre). While the world I created isn’t historically accurate by any means (and I can get away with it because it’s a fantasy), I do hope it makes readers feel like they’ve stepped into a magical world from a different (but familiar) time period.

FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
I hope readers will end the way the book begins—with the truth found in John 1:5. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” This world is full of darkness. But, as Noelle’s father tells her in Glass Across the Sea, “Light always finds a way to break free.” I pray readers will come away believing that truth, if they don’t already, and if they do, I hope they feel emboldened to share the true Light in a way they haven’t before.

FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as a fantasy and young adult author?
Writing for young adults comes with the unspoken understanding that my readers range beyond my target teen audience. I’m in my fourth decade of life, and I still read books for teens. There’s just something about coming-of-age stories that keeps drawing me back. And I know I’m not the only reader my age who feels this way.

As a parent to two teens now, it’s often a very daunting task to find books that I feel comfortable with my kids reading. The challenge is writing a book that will captivate teens, while also appealing to parents in addition to my adult readership. I think one important factor is making sure there’s at least one character each demographic can relate to.

FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
There are too many to name them all, but I always return to Kiera Cass’s books. Her pretty dress covers have captured my heart from The Siren to The Selection to A Thousand Heartbeats. Now I finally have my pretty dress cover thanks to the talent of my designer, Emilie Haney. But more than the covers, Kiera’s books have heart. And her love for her Savior shines through her work more and more with each new story. She continues to be an inspiration as she doesn’t shy away from her faith even though her books are written for the general market.

My author friends also provide so much inspiration and encouragement. Nadine Brandes, Lindsay Franklin, Jamie Foley, S.D. Grimm, and Shannon Dittemore are just a handful of amazing authors who love the Lord and continue to write for His kingdom. They inspire me every day, and I am so thankful to have them in my corner.

FF: How has your faith or worldview impacted the way you tell stories?
I truly believe that spiritual themes are the natural fingerprint of faith every Christian author leaves on every story they write. Even if I don’t set out to include a spiritual theme or allegory in my books, my readers inevitably find one. The more I grow in my faith, the more convicted I feel to write stories that glorify the Lord. He called me to write, and when I write I see it as an act of obedience and worship. All I can do is surrender my stories to the Lord and pray my words will point readers to Him.