PRESTON: Sage, what makes your lesbian novels pack such a big punch in a dime-store novel size?
SAGE: I tell my stories with a relaxed plot and many offshoot subplots with fully developed lesbian characters and secondary characters based on the length of a two-hour movie. I know what it takes to get the story told in a short time and I purposely gear my novels for screen adaptation. Sage Sweetwater will never write thick books...but she will write BIG books.
PRESTON: Where do the lesbians today look for answers to survive in modern-day society?
SAGE: Some old-day answers come from palm-leaf manuscripts and some old-day answers come from Sage Sweetwater novels. Sage Sweetwater novels are a lesbian encyclopedia to the contribution of the lesbian world. I urge all women to buy my books.
PRESTON: Why do you incorporate sex and religion so closely together in your novels? I mean...is it a literary law of yours?
SAGE: We are living in a very pagan culture today. Mainline religions have taken enchantment out of religions. I am putting enchantment back into religions in my novels. I am taking my readers on a spiritual path that emphasizes respect for nature and all living things. I choose uncensored nature-based lesbian sex scenes very carefully to appear in my novels. I only write a brief sex scene to further develop my character's sexuality...after all, these are lesbian novels and I have my own womaness invested in my novels. Sex and religion is the intermix that makes a perfect balance in a modern-day lesbian pulp novel.
PRESTON: What are your favorite book to screen adaptations, Sage?
SAGE: I have five favorite GREATS...books to screen adaptations. (1) HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT (2) GREAT EXPECTATIONS (3) NEVER CRY WOLF (4) THE HORSE WHISPERER. Notice that none of these are in the lesbian genre, but this one is; (5) DESERT HEARTS. I think Donna Dietch did an amazing job as the director of the Jane Rule lesbian pulp novel adaptation.
PRESTON: Sage, what advice would you give to lesbian writers of today?
SAGE: Get it all down with a feather quill pen first, write with candor and express yourself, and then bring your lesbian voice into the marketplace. You have to see it through from start to finish and ask yourself if you tried hard enough or if you quit before the big miracle?
PRESTON: Thank you for your valuable time Sage. I have enjoyed my time with you this afternoon. One more question. Where do you want your novel THE BUCKSKIN SKIRT OAR TRAVELER to be shelved in my menagerie/book store?
SAGE: That special shelf that is earmarked for pathfinders, dreamers, healers, spirit guides, mentors, seekers, and post-card poets, writers whose words are dictated by the scenery displayed on the cactus lamps with hand-colored photographs, printed on plastic-coated paper and laced to a lampshade. Thank you Ms. Michaels.
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