Magic, Mayhem, and Goat-Sitting Disasters: An Interview with Author Sarah Neeson

Ever wondered what happens when you mix Celtic Fae, gritty romance, a fiercely loyal found family, and one very mischievous male lead who should never be allowed near livestock? No, really, there are goats involved.

This week in MiloaVerse, I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Sarah Neeson, author of the Glamour Blind fantasy series, to chat about writing fae magic in a modern world, her dual life as a genre hopping author, and the hard choices that come with building deeply emotional character arcs. From plotting with vibes to cutting beloved characters, this interview was full of wisdom, laughter, and unexpected tenderness.

Here's a peek behind the glamour.

Who Is Sarah Neeson?

Sarah Neeson is a multi genre author who writes contemporary romance under her real name, and under fantasy under the pen name SP Neeson. Her Glamour Blind series (originally meant to be a trilogy, but the fourth book insisted on showing up) introduces us to Calynn, a woman who learns she's not quite as human as she thought... and ends up entangled in secrets, breaking and entering, and one very swoonworthy man with a few secrets of his own.

Spoiler alert: there may be an assassin. There will absolutely be trouble.

Celtic Roots & Urban Fae

One of the most compelling parts of the Glamour Blind series is its grounding in Celtic mythology. Sarah shared that her father was born in Ireland, and her personal ties to both Ireland and Scotland inspired her to weave Celtic Fae into a modern setting.

"I really wanted to focus on that part of my background," she said. "It turned out to be a lot of fun getting to learn more about where I come from while telling this story."

And let's be real... who doesn't want to write about fae courts, glamoured lies, and magical politics after walking through the foggy green hills of Ireland?

Found Family & Trusting Too Slow

If you're a fan of the found family trope, Sarah's books serve it up with sincerity and soul. Calynn's story is shaped by the fact that she grew up in foster care, bouncing from home to home, never quite belonging, always on edge.

So when she meets Ronan, the man with secrets, she doesn't fall easily.

In fact, Sarah intentionally wrote their romance arc in a way that flips the usual emotional order. Physical trust comes before emotional. Calynn needs to see someone show up for her before she'll let them in.

"She's not going to let someone in quickly," Sarah explained. "For her, it was about finding someone who stuck around, someone she could rely on."

It's raw. It's real. And honestly? It's beautiful.

Writing Hard Topics with Heart

The Glamour Blind series isn't afraid to go there. We talked about how Sarah handles heavy topics; trauma, prejudice, self worth, and her answer was as thoughtful as her prose.

"I always try to stay true to who the character is and what they've been through," she said. "Sometimes that means talking to people who've actually lived those experiences."

She's also not afraid to call out the nuances in magical prejudice. In her world, humans have their biases, sure, but so do the Fae. And in the spinoff series, one of the characters has to confront the deep-rooted prejudices she inherited from others.

Are your beliefs really yours? Or were they handed to you?

Whew. That question hit a little harder than expected.

The Scene That Hurt to Cut

Every author has that one scene (or character!) they didn't want to cut. For Sarah, it was a side character in book two who she loved, but who just wasn't pulling her plot weight.

Her editor gently (and correctly) suggested cutting a different character than Sarah originally thought. Cue the heartbreak.

But, plot twist: that character is getting a second life in the spinoff series. So, if you've ever had to kill your darlings, just know, sometimes, they come back stronger.

Pantsing, Plotting & Scrivener Chaos

Sarah describes herself as a discovery writer (aka plotting with vibes), though she now relies on tools like the Save the Cat method and Scrivener to organize her beautiful chaos.

Her writing process? Chronological...ish.

"If an idea comes to me, I don't stop myself," she said. "I'll write it down and slot it where it belongs later. Otherwise, it just lives in my head and won't leave me alone."

Honestly, relatable.

Her current series spans multiple books and timelines, and she's juggling character arcs across novels like a pro juggler in a storm of fae glitter.

The Goat Question (Yes, Really)

We couldn't wrap this interview without asking the question that truly matters: "Which of your characters would you trust to babysit your Angora goats?

Her answer?

Quinn is on goat duty, clipboard in hand, making sure everyone's fed, watered, and fabulously coiffed.

Reese, however, the chaotic heartthrob of the new series, is absolutely banned from the barn. You know it's bad when the goats stage a coup.

Final Thoughts from Sarah

When asked what she hopes readers take away from her books, Sarah's answer was simple but powerful.

"I hope they're entertained. But also, I hope they start thinking about prejudice, how we see others, and how we can challenge what we've been taught."

That's what makes her stories so resonant. They're not just magical. They're meaningful.

Want more?

You can watch the full interview on my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@MiloaVerse where we dive deeper into Sarah's writing process, her love of dual POV stories, and the twist she almost didn't write, until her sister called her out.

Check out Sarah's books at: https://18streetpress.com/sp-neeson/

Want to meet more authors like Sarah, discover incredible fantasy reads, and find inspiration for your own stories? Sign up for the newsletter and never miss an interview, workshop, or cheeky goat reference again.

Happy reading.