The World of Myth Magazine

Hello everyone! This is C.W. Winters, and I'm back again with another special "Where are they Now?" Interview for The World of Myth Magazine. We had such a blast last month the powers-that-be decided to give it another go around for this issue!

With that said, today's guest was once a contributor to the magazine, our resident movie reviewer, and Former Managing Editor; please help me in welcoming Ms. Sara Saint John. First, thank you, Ms. Saint John, for allowing us to sit down with you after all of this time. So, let see what kind of questions we have for you today, shall we?

Sara Saint John: Thank you for this opportunity, CW. I'm honored to be here.

C.W. Winter: You came in almost a year and a half after the magazine launched in issue #16. You contributed monthly with a combination of short stories, poems, and photography until issue #52! In all of those months, Do you have a favorite memory during that time?

Sara Saint John: I have many good memories of The World of Myth. The first time they accepted a story of mine, it validated me. It made me feel like I wasn't a child play-acting as a writer. It's called Imposter Syndrome. We all feel it at some time or another. TWoM believed in my work.

C.W. Winter: I know that it was many years ago, but what would you say was your best contribution, story or poem, to the magazine?

Sara Saint John: It's a toss-up between Cabin Painting for the sheer joy I took in its gruesome shock value and Harlequin for the poetry of it. It's based on "Helplessly Hoping," the song by Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

C.W. Winter: What was your favorite genre to write?

Sara Saint John: I love reading stories that combine genres. My own stories tend toward the macabre, with romance thrown in some of them for a touch of hope.

C.W. Winter: Speaking of Writing, Dark Myth Publications produced a collection of your short stories called "Black Hearts & Red Blood Dreams: Tales of Terror and the Supernatural." What was that experience like?

Sara Saint John: It was great: an experience of mutual respect. Dark Myth Publications had a vision for the finished product but never forgot I had my own vision, too. They let me choose the vector art and create my own cover for Black Hearts & Red Blood Dreams. We worked together. It was a wonderful experience.

C.W. Winter: With the good comes the bad. What would you say was the most trying time for you during that period?

Sara Saint John: The most trying things were the things all writers fight: juggling what I wanted to do with what I needed to do. Writing, editing, family, helping others achieve their dreams vs. the day job and responsibilities.

C.W. Winter: The last time we publicly heard from you was after saying goodbye in issue #52. Did you go on and keep writing, or did you move on to bigger and better things?

Sara Saint John: I wouldn't say "bigger and better" because that diminishes TWoM. During that time, my novels Blood Atonement and Trust the Night were published by Samhain Publishing. It was a wonderful time.

C.W. Winter: After you left the magazine, where did you go next?

Sara Saint John: I left because too much life got in the way of my creativity. Dad developed dementia, he passed on, and Mom needed my help, then she passed. I worked full time, and we had a custody battle for my grandson. My marriage failed. There was nothing left, no time or reserves to put into my writing. Honestly, I became depressed. (As an aside: they say write what you know. I believe it means to use your emotions and human experience to deepen and layer your work.)

C.W. Winter: Let's talk about Pixelated Polly, shall we? Most people did not know it was you writing those great movie reviews; how did you get started doing that?

Sara Saint John: Everyone goes to movies, then discusses them after. Movies give me joy and touch my heart. Pixilated Polly was so much fun! She gave me an additional reason to watch, to research the actors and the stories behind the scenes. It was like we were all going to the movies together.

C.W. Winter: Jumping to the present, what do you still watch many movies nowadays?

Sara Saint John: It's a whole different game now. Covid kept me out of the theaters and streaming in my living room replaced that. I still watch movies all the time. Binge-watching is a new guilty pleasure. I no longer have to wait to see what happens next. There's a lot of quality work out there, quality screenwriting, too; The Mare of Easttown, Sweet Tooth, The Nevers, Loki, WandaVision, to name a few.

C.W. Winter: Can you tell us a fun Terry D. Scheerer story?

Sara Saint John: Terry D. Scheerer: that lovable old curmudgeon. I miss him! It's strange how someone you've never met in person can come to mean so much. He was a great editor for my collection. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He was a Pagan. One time, I asked for prayers, good vibes, whatever you believed for a crisis situation in my life. Terry said his beliefs would make him dance naked in the woods. I told him to go for it. It became a running joke.

C.W. Winter: Do you still visit the magazine?

Sara Saint John: Of course. One of the joys of editing TWoM, and I'm sure Stephanie will agree, was reading new work and giving new writers the chance to get their work out to the public. Nothing's changed. TWoM still affords those opportunities.

C.W. Winter: As a writer who was in the magazine for several years, how do you see The World of Myth as it is moving into its seventeenth year?

Sara Saint John: I'm honored to have been a part of TWoM family. It's great to see it moving forward, discovering more talent, growing stronger. I look forward to seeing what the future brings.

C.W. Winter: Is there anything in the works now?

Sara Saint John: As I come out of this depression (which I only mention to give you hope), I have a half-written novel waiting for me. There are stories to be told, and the writing is still there. It never goes away.

C.W. Winter: If any of our readers want to contact you via social media, what outlets can they find you at?

Sara Saint John: My Facebook is Sarah Poff at https//www.facebook.com/sarasaintjohn.

C.W. Winter: Thank you, again, for your time. Before we sign off, is there anything you would like to say as a parting note to our readers?

Sara Saint John: Thank you again, CW. My parting words are what I've always said: Never give up. Keep trying and keep honing your craft. I believe in you. CW Winter: Thank you! And thank you to the management for having me come back once more for this issue.