Author
Sarah’s first novel for readers aged 9 and up, ‘Big Magic’, is a 2023 CBCA Notable Book and its sequel, ‘Magic Awry’ came out in August 2023. Together with her middle-grade critique group, she puts out the popular weekly writing-craft podcast for young (and not so young!) writers: ‘Five Writers, Five Minutes’. In a previous life, she was an award-winning ABC Radio journalist before moving to Mullumbimby in northern NSW where she initially wrote novels for grown-ups – including the Miles Franklin shortlisted ‘Salt Rain’. She has found her home in writing for children and is currently working on her next middle-grade novel (which will be out in 2025). She teaches writing to kids and adults — at schools, for writers festivals, and at university. She is an avid reader of children’s and YA books and works in the children’s section of The Book Room in Byron Bay. Sarah enjoys writing books that not only explore big ideas but are page-turning adventures.
Writing Magic: Sarah uses her magical middle-grade duology, ‘Big Magic’ and ‘Magic Awry’ to explain how to write magical stories. She shares her inspiration for the books and takes students behind the scenes of building the magical world of the series, creating magical characters and the research involved in her books. She discusses a writer’s life, shares practical writing tips and talks about the magic that happens when we read. She describes her journey from ABC journalist to novelist for adults before she found a home writing for kids. And, because ‘Big Magic’ and ‘Magic Awry’ are set in the circus, there will be a little bit of circus fun!