About MeI'm an author and teacher-librarian living in Whistler, BC. I love the mountains, the ocean, hiking, skiing, reading, hanging out with my family, doing + read more crossword puzzles, dancing and working with kids. I love doing author visits, either in-person or virtually. I bring 25 years of teaching experience to my visits. Show Less

My Work Speaker Info Contact Me

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You May Know Me For:

Literature Types
• Picture Books
• Chapter Books
• Middle Grade Fiction
• YA Fiction
• Editorial Services

Published WorksDuck Days, illustrated by Rebecca Bender, Pajama Press 2020

Penguin Days, illustrated by Rebecca Bender, Pajama Press 2018

Slug Days, illustrated by Rebecca Bender, Pajama Press 2017

Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide, Poppy Productions 2016

Warm Up, Orca Book Publishers 2014

Count Me In, Orca Book Publishers 2011, winner of the 2012/13 Red Cedar Book Award

Sounds of the Ferry, illustrated by Steven Corvelo, Poppy Productions 2011, nominated for the 2012/13 Chocolate Lily Book Award.

Jake Reynolds: Chicken or Eagle?, Orca Book Publishers 2009.

Mountain Machines, illustrated by Steven Corvelo, Poppy Productions 2009.

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Speaking InformationI bring 24 years of teaching experience to my presentations. I use my experience working with children to keep my school presentations engaging and + read more age-appropriate. I know the challenges students and teachers face when writing in the classroom. Students leave my presentations with story ideas they are excited to write.


Here are a few presentations I have done in the past. I'm also open to tailoring a presentation to the needs of your students. Contact me at (604) 938 4230 to book.

K-2 Where do authors get their ideas? (30-40 minutes)
Kids often have trouble finding topics for their writing. I will use Slug Days, Penguin Days, Mountain Machines and Sounds of the Ferry to discuss where my ideas for the books started, and how students can use their interests and surroundings as a jumping off point for writing.



2-4 What does every story need? (40 minutes)

Every story needs three things – a main character, a setting and a problem. Using Slug Days and Penguin Days, I will discuss how the three parts interact and will lead the students in activities to create their own stories.



2-4 I know that place! (40 minutes)
A strong sense of place is a theme that runs through many of my books. I live in the mountains and spend time on the coast whenever I can, and both make their way into my writing. In this author talk I’ll discuss Jake Reynolds: Chicken or Eagle?, Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide, the writing process, and how I used events and locations from my own life to add exciting details to the books.



4-7 Where do authors get their ideas? (40 minutes)
Everyone has a story to tell, and authors draw from all parts of their lives (and sometimes those of their friends), to write a book. In this workshop I will describe where the ideas for Count Me In and Warm Up came from, and how I used bits and pieces of experiences from throughout my life to write these fictional stories.



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I will visit:
• Vancouver
• Coast
• Lower Mainland
• Gulf and Vancouver Islands
• Thompson Okanagan
• Northern British Columbia
• Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
• Kootenay Rockies
• The Territories
• Canada - beyond BC
• USA
• International
• Virtually

I Present to Age Groups:
• Primary School
• Grades K-3
• Grades 4-6
• Grades 7-8

Request Booking Info

TestimonialsNot only is Sara a gifted storyteller, she is a fantastic teacher. Few people have the skills to + read more engage a gym full of Grade 2 & 3 students, and Sara had them riveted with her entertaining, humorous and sensitive chapter book about a child who has a hard time fitting in. She also led the students through a story building exercise, and together they created characters, a problem, and a solution. - Rebecca Wood Barrett, Program Manager, Authors in the Schools Show Less Sara genuinely engaged the students and strengthened their understanding of literary elements and + read more processes. In addition, she answered their numerous questions with ease that reflected her understanding of elementary school aged children. - Renee Kranz, teacher-librarian Show Less

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Awards and Recognition:Duck Days
Junior Library Guild Fall 2020 Selection

Penguin Days
Bank Street Best + show more Book

Slug Days
USBBY Outstanding International Book
Nominated for the ALA Schneider Family Middle School Book Award
Finalist for the Foreword INDIES: Juvenile Fiction Award
Nominated for the 2018/19 Chocolate Lily Book Award

Count Me In
Winner of the 2012/13 Red Cedar Book Award

Sounds of the Ferry
Nominated for the 2012/13 Chocolate Lily Book Award Show Less