Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Sabitha: Even dragons have hard days! Sarah’s children’s book, Henry the Sneezing Dragon, shows the importance of loving and accepting everyone. Sarah, can you tell us more about your writing and your stories?

Sarah: Absolutely! I write children’s books. My first book, Henry the Sneezing Dragon, was published in June 2023.The blurb reads: Life as a dragon should be amazing. You have the ability to soar across the sky and breathe fire. However, when you are a young, clumsy dragon who sneezes fire at all the worst moments, it makes life a little challenging. Desperate to make a friend and to finally feel accepted, Henry takes off across the savanna, but trouble seems to follow him at every turn.

I have another book, To the Moon: A Jacob and Trevor Adventure, coming out this spring. My boys are especially excited for this book because they are in it. It’s based on a make-believe game we play in our backyard about going to the moon. Here is the summary: Jacob and Trevor are brothers and the best of friends. They have avid imaginations and love to play make-believe. Whether they are pretending to be pirates or running from imaginary dinosaurs, they know how to have fun. Their favorite thing to do is play on their saucer swing and pretend to fly to the moon. One day, after Jacob loses a tooth, the tooth fairy leaves something very special for the boys. Jacob and Trevor’s adventures are about to change in a way neither of them could ever have imagined.

Sabitha: What inspired you to write Henry the Sneezing Dragon?

Sarah: My son Jacob inspired me to come up with the story Henry the Sneezing Dragon. It was a story I created for him when he was only two years old. He was always asking me to tell him a story. Often, he would give me a topic (such as dragons or dinosaurs) and I had to craft a story from whatever details he gave me. When my second son, Trevor, was born I decided it was time to start putting my stories into print.

Sabitha: Someone who crafts stories like that must be a lover of books! What books do you read and recommend?

Sarah: I love SOOOO many books. If I’m talking to someone who enjoys romance—I love Perfect by Judith McNaught, Montana Sky by Nora Roberts, Loving Scoundrel by Johanna Lindsey, The Outsider by Penelope Williamson, and The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh – to name a few.  I’m also in a huge Emily Henry phase right now. 

I also love books like The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Dear Child by Romy Hausmann, and The Whisper Man by Alex North. I really enjoyed the Dr. Charlotte Stone series by Karen Robards, and of course, The Hunger Games and the Divergent series are a must. I’ve also just finished Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and am dying to get my hands on the second book, Iron Flame.

Sabitha: Who did you imagine reading your book as you wrote it? And who ended up reading it?

Sarah: Honestly, my kids are my audience. I create stories that they enjoy. However, once I started to write my stories down on paper—I would imagine parents cuddling up and reading with their little ones. As a mom and a language arts teacher, I think it is so important to read to children when they are young and help engage them in stories. Plus, nothing beats quality time spent with your kids.

Sabitha: What’s your next writing project?

Sarah: I currently have a book, To the Moon: a Jacob and Trevor Adventure, in the works. It is currently in the hands of my publisher and I’m hoping it will be available in print this spring.

I also have a story titled The Water Bear Astronaut that has been written. I just need to decide if I am going to move forward with publishing.

A story I’m currently writing is The Stow Away Bear. My kids and I visit Mackinac Island every year – and this is a story about a bear that manages to make his way to the island in search of fudge. It is still a work in progress.

Sabitha: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?

Sarah: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.
People can find Henry the Sneezing Dragon at Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and they can learn more about it from Goodreads. They can find me on Facebook.