Q1. Please tell me more about yourself?
I’m an indie author from Sydney, Australia, and a single mum to two teenage girls who I homeschool via Distance Education. I taught children for more than 20 years as an Early Childhood Teacher in several preschool settings and also supervised a Mobile Toy and Book Library for 12 years, improving access to books and literacy experiences to disadvantaged and vulnerable children.
Q2. What are your favorite books to read?
A. Children’s picture books are my absolute, forever favorites. I have always adored them and still enjoy reading them now as an adult.
I also enjoy reading biographies and autobiographies of people who have overcome challenges and adversity, as well as self-help, motivational and spiritual books.
Q3. Do you like coffee or tea?
A. I have always enjoyed a nice cup of tea and have one first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Q4. How many books have you written?
A. I have written several books since I first took an interest in writing. I published my first two lively, rhyming picture books in 2009 and 2012, before taking time away from the pen. After a few years, I started writing again at the end of 2018 and published my latest children’s picture book, in May 2021.
I would say I have 4 other completed manuscripts that are awaiting publishing, whilst still working on completing another 2 drafts. I am hoping to start the illustrations of one of these next books this year.
Q5. Published books
A. 2021 Aria Finds Her Voice - (available on Amazon)
2012 The Great Camel Race
2009 The Great Emu Chase
Songs
2021 IAM Special! I AM Me!
Q6. Do you have a favorite bookstore?
A. No, but my local is Harry Hartog which is a really lovely store. To be honest, I love any bookstore that I can visit to check out the latest children’s books, I could stay and browse the shelves all day.
Q7.Did you go to college for writing?
A. No, I went to University and completed my degree in Early Childhood Teaching. I then spent more than 20 years teaching and reading to children. I have completed a few courses in writing and self-publishing and attended many Writer’s Festivals over the years to improve my craft. I am forever learning though, I’m learning now more about the marketing side of publishing, as the children’s book industry is a very expensive and competitive market.
Q8. Growing up what were your favorite books to read?
A. Our shelves at home were always filled with Little Golden Books. One of my favorites, that I still have 40 years after being gifted is, “The Boy With the Drum,” by David. L Harrison. The lyrical rhyme and repetition were so much fun, I can still recite it from memory, just like a song. Another favorite that comes to mind is ‘Are you, my mother?’ By P.D Eastman.
As an adult and teacher, some of my favorite children’s authors have included Eric Carle, Pamela Allen, Lynley Dodd, Nick Bland, and Mem Fox, among so many others.
Q9. How did you get inspired to write a book?
A. My love for children’s books grew during my teaching years, as I read to children every day and could see the benefits and joy that books brought to them. This continued when I became a parent and started reading to my own children. Story time was always special, so it was an interest that just grew naturally I suppose. I actually told my family that I was going to write a book one day as a bit of a joke, and then a couple of years later it happened. It was inspired by a story we used to tell as a family about an experience we had at a wildlife park when I was younger. Then one night, I sat and the words just sang out, so I put pen to paper and wrote my first book, “The Great Emu Chase,” and have continued writing ever since. Writing for me really is about sharing my stories with children who can relate and connect to them, find joy in reading them and be inspired by them. It is also about leaving a legacy for my own children, so they can continue to enjoy and share my stories with their children too in years to come.
Q10. What hobbies do you have?
A. Apart from being with my children and spoiling my little dog, Ellie, I enjoy spending time in nature, (especially among birds and trees), photography, meditation and astrology, movies and musicals, and writing. I also have an impressive collection of crystals and cards.
Q11. Where can people find you online?
A. Here is a link to all my social media accounts, website, and Amazon listing for my most recent book.
https://linktr.ee/sarah_palmer
Thank you,
Sarah Palmer
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