June 25 2025
Ep13: Today at Elaine’s Literary Salon, discover “The Year of Sarah,” a memoir of transformation by yogi, author, and entrepreneur Sarah DeBlock
This week at Elaine’s Literary Salon we meet Sarah DeBlock, author of the 2025 memoire, The Year of Sarah.
About the author: Sarah has an amazing back story. This yogi and entrepreneur who published her first novel in 2025 was introduced to yoga in 2011 when she was majoring in Chemical Engineering.
“During some difficult semesters, I was lucky to discover yoga’s incredible stress-relieving benefits and contribute these yoga classes to help me through the high-pressure environment I faced,” she explains, noting that in 2015, she again experienced the healing force of yoga when she met yoga therapists at Rasa Yoga who helped her heal sciatica pain that had been ongoing for five years. Her passion for yoga was already immense, but this solidified her desire to train in-depth in yoga therapy for self-transformation and pass on this knowledge.
Sarah founded Soma Yoga Healing Center and loves connecting with people on their healing journey every day. She contributes her training and knowledge of Ayurveda yoga to many teachers in the lineage with her main influence coming from her guru Padma Shakti. She obtained her RYT-200, RYT-500, CIAYT yoga therapy, and Ayurveda certification through Padma’s School Rasa Yoga, and completed her prenatal yoga specialization at Mind the Mat with experienced teachers Sara Vanderhoof and Caroline Deitch. Currently, she studies under Padma Shakti, mentor Gayatri Asita, and Sanskrit teachers Kristin and Randall Brooks. She would not be where she is today without the many teachers who have guided her and all the teachers who came before them. She is deeply grateful for their love and dedication.
About the book: The Year of Sarah is a memoir of transformation, where Sarah invites readers to join her for the year that redefined her understanding of love and self. In the midst of a long-distance relationship and the heartbreak that follows, Sarah embarks on a deeply personal journey—one that ultimately leads her back to her heart. Through the practice of yoga, Sarah discovers that the path to healing is not just about overcoming loss, but about investing in her own self-evolution. As she learns to let go of attachment and embrace personal growth, her story becomes a testament to the power of turning inward during life’s most challenging moments. This memoir speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost in love or disconnected from their true self. By reflecting on her own journey, Sarah holds up a mirror for others to see themselves reflected in her experiences, reminding us that healing and connection come from the courage to share our stories. The Year of Sarah reminds us that the most important relationship we can nurture is the one we have with ourselves, and proves that even in times of heartache, we can be led back to joy, resilience, and the deepest parts of who we are.
Click here to buy The Year of Sarah.
Check out upcoming live Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.
Elaine’s Literary Salon
About Elaine’s: Elaine’s modern Mediterranean cuisine is based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt. The unique style is best described as Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is located at 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The 1880 building, the previous home of Bilbo Baggins for 38 years, has been completely renovated with a new look and feel. The restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River. Founders Park, The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront are only blocks away. Elaine’s is named after the owner’s grandmother. When the owner was twelve years old in Cairo, Egypt, she promised her grandmother that she would someday own a restaurant and name it after her. The owner proudly shares her family’s recipes with the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host 
And meet the PR Director for Elaine’s Literary Salon, InkandescentPR.com’s founder, Hope Katz Gibbs. With her team of award-winning journalists, illustrators and video producers, they help writers up their PR and marketing game with professionally produced podcasts on 
