Sara Leach is the author of nine books for children, including her most recent book, Duck Days. Its companion book, Slug Days, was a finalist for a Foreword Indie Book Award for Juvenile Fiction and nominated for the Chocolate Lily Book Award. Penguin Days was a Bank Street Best Book. Her middle grade novel Count Me In has been translated into four languages, and won the Red Cedar Book Award. Sounds of the Ferry, illustrated by Steven Corvelo, was nominated for the Chocolate Lily Book Award. In addition to being a children’s author, Sara is also an elementary school teacher-librarian. She is a frequent presenter at elementary schools and public libraries, both in person and virtually. Sara lives in Whistler, BC, where she enjoys skiing, hiking and biking in the local mountains.
Author Visits
Sara has been elementary school teacher-librarian and classroom teacher for over twenty years. She uses her experience working with children to keep her school presentations engaging and age-appropriate. Sara knows the challenges students and teachers face when writing in the classroom. Students leave her presentations with story ideas they are excited to write. Teacher-Librarians can choose from the following presentations, or speak to Sara about tailoring something specific for your students' needs:
K-2 Where do authors get their ideas? (30-40 minutes) Kids often have trouble finding topics for their writing. Sara will use Duck Days, Slug Days, Penguin Days, Mountain Machines and Sounds of the Ferry to discuss where her 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 Duck Days, Slug Days and Penguin Days, Sara 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 Sara’s books. She lives in the mountains and spends time on the coast whenever she can, and both make their way into her writing. In this author talk she’ll discuss Jake Reynolds: Chicken or Eagle? Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide, the writing process, and how she used events and locations from her 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 Sara will describe where the ideas for Count Me In and Warm Up came from, and how she used bits and pieces of experiences from throughout her life to write these fictional stories.
Writing Workshops
Sara is also available to teach writing workshops to community groups, at writer’s festivals, or to critique groups. Past workshops she has offered include:
* Critique Groups: How to begin, maintain, and get the most from a critique group.
* Writing for Children: Learn what makes a good children’s book, special hints about the publishing process in the children’s lit world and how to take your writing to the next level and get it noticed by publishers.
* Improve Your Writing: Ten useful ideas you can use to make your manuscript shine.
Sara has been elementary school teacher-librarian and classroom teacher for over twenty years. She uses her experience working with children to keep her school presentations engaging and age-appropriate. Sara knows the challenges students and teachers face when writing in the classroom. Students leave her presentations with story ideas they are excited to write. Teacher-Librarians can choose from the following presentations, or speak to Sara about tailoring something specific for your students' needs:
K-2 Where do authors get their ideas? (30-40 minutes) Kids often have trouble finding topics for their writing. Sara will use Duck Days, Slug Days, Penguin Days, Mountain Machines and Sounds of the Ferry to discuss where her 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 Duck Days, Slug Days and Penguin Days, Sara 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 Sara’s books. She lives in the mountains and spends time on the coast whenever she can, and both make their way into her writing. In this author talk she’ll discuss Jake Reynolds: Chicken or Eagle? Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide, the writing process, and how she used events and locations from her 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 Sara will describe where the ideas for Count Me In and Warm Up came from, and how she used bits and pieces of experiences from throughout her life to write these fictional stories.
Writing Workshops
Sara is also available to teach writing workshops to community groups, at writer’s festivals, or to critique groups. Past workshops she has offered include:
* Critique Groups: How to begin, maintain, and get the most from a critique group.
* Writing for Children: Learn what makes a good children’s book, special hints about the publishing process in the children’s lit world and how to take your writing to the next level and get it noticed by publishers.
* Improve Your Writing: Ten useful ideas you can use to make your manuscript shine.
* Creating snappy dialogue and characters that jump of the page
Sara has been elementary school teacher-librarian and classroom teacher for over twenty years. She uses her experience working with children to keep her school presentations engaging and age-appropriate. Sara knows the challenges students and teachers face when writing in the classroom. Students leave her presentations with story ideas they are excited to write. Teacher-Librarians can choose from the following presentations, or speak to Sara about tailoring something specific for your students' needs:
K-2 Where do authors get their ideas? (30-40 minutes) Kids often have trouble finding topics for their writing. Sara will use Duck Days, Slug Days, Penguin Days, Mountain Machines and Sounds of the Ferry to discuss where her 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 Duck Days, Slug Days and Penguin Days, Sara 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 Sara’s books. She lives in the mountains and spends time on the coast whenever she can, and both make their way into her writing. In this author talk she’ll discuss Jake Reynolds: Chicken or Eagle? Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide, the writing process, and how she used events and locations from her 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 Sara will describe where the ideas for Count Me In and Warm Up came from, and how she used bits and pieces of experiences from throughout her life to write these fictional stories.
