Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Allison.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I began my teaching journey in 2005, and accomplished my first big goal in 2010 when I taught in a rural village in Ghana, West Africa. I wanted to see and experience the realities of education in a community and culture unlike my own. The experience changed me, to say the least. I will always hold that place, and those students, in my heart. I now have over a decade of teaching experience and hold an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction. Fast forward 10 years to summer 2020, in the heart of a global pandemic, and I found myself ready to tackle my next “big goal”- becoming an author. I always knew I wanted to write children’s picture books, but the ideas that came and went never seemed quite right. During those months at home when the world seemed closed, it all came together.
My first book poured out of me, and I found myself jotting, writing, and typing in a blur of ideas of inspiration. I created my own publishing imprint, B+A Stories, named after my 2 daughters Brynnlee and Audrey. My children, and their personalities and friendships, have inspired me to finally write and publish books. Audrey-Saurus will be released on March 11th, and Each of Us will be released on July 12th.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting to a point where I felt confident enough in my story to share it with an editor was a very big hurdle to overcome. I didn’t expect to feel as nervous as I did about having others read my work and give me feedback. In addition to the writing work, I’ve also had to do an incredible amount of research and planning, including how to copyright my work, register with the Library of Congress, decide who to use as the printer, who to hire for illustrations, and then how to market and promote my books once they were ready. The learning curve has been steep, but seeing my books in the hands of children has been absolutely worth all of the time and energy I’ve poured into it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a teacher and author, I am passionate about creating a love for learning, as well as building confidence in my own children and students. When students see themselves as readers, as authors and writers, and as critical thinkers and problem solvers, I feel incredibly proud and grateful to be in this profession and doing this work. I have always loved the magic of a good read aloud, and strive to make the books I write fun, empowering, beautiful, and meaningful. Sharing my love and passion for reading and writing with children and families far and wide is an absolute dream come true.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For anyone who might be considering writing a book and becoming an author, I would encourage you to carve out the time to make that dream a reality. I spend each morning, from 4-6am before my children wake up, writing and pursuing this dream. It has taken countless hours of research, writing, editing, revising, and collaboration- but it’s worth the effort and time. If traditional publishing isn’t your path, create your own path to make it happen.
Contact Info:
- Email: authorsarahallison@gmail.com
- Website: https://authorsarahallison.us
- Instagram: @author.sarah.allison
