Too Irwin to be King

Here’s a thing about having seven younger siblings—you don’t often get to pick exactly what you want to watch. So in my growing up days, I actually enjoyed getting sick and having to stay home from school (which happened quite a bit, to be honest—hooray for bubble-gun immune systems) because it meant two things. First, it meant my mom brought me a Jamba Juice and bread from Great Harvest.

And it meant I got to watch exactly what I wanted all day.

That meant Animal Planet.

In particular, my good friend Steve Irwin.

I’ve talked about Steve on here before, and it’s no shocker that I saw in him a kindred spirit. Broadly because I learned so much from his way of living with unabashed enthusiasm and how that is the best kind of life. (Can you imagine Steve Irwin even using the word cringe? I can’t, and I wish no one did. I don’t believe in cringe.)

Specifically, because holy cow animals are the coolest. The weirder the better.

Fast forward to grown-up Sarah writing spooky books.

The Nightmare House had my first real villain.

In my first spooky book, I knew I needed a real monster, a true villain. I tried to make sure my other books had conflict and struggles and complicated characters, but so far they hadn’t had an actual villain. When I knew this book needed one, there was no question that the monster was human shaped.

I’ve written here before about how the Fear Maker is based on a recurring baddie from my nightmares as a kid. A tall, handsome, and very well-dressed man who was always on his way to get me.

I believe in the devil, but not one with horns and a pitchfork. No, I believe the devil has an excellent skin-care routine, an utterly charming smile, and impeccable styling. (At first.)

That’s where the Fear Maker came from. When I leaned into that, the Fear Maker came easy. A little too easy for comfort, honestly. The Fear Maker, to me, is what real evil is, but I wanted Penny Hope to learn how powerful a penny’s worth of hope is against him.

Then I wrote Monster Tree.

Monster Tree had my first real monster.

I was ready to write a monstrous tree that sends out monstrous little minious to do its monstrous bidding.

And then…you guys…Linus made friends with one of the monsters. I didn’t even mean that to happen, I swear! It’s just…the monster came on the page and I was like, awwww, precious, and now that lil guy is probably what I get most comments about from readers.

The monsters of King and Lovecraft are not beasties I could come up with, because I just end up feeling sorry for them and wanting to help them. My monsters keep becoming pets and my villains come handsome and smiling.

I believe that every single critter and creature on this planet was created by a loving, artistic, wide-armed Being, and can’t you just imagine His delight when He created this face?

So I’ll just be over here trying to hug the odd, slimey, scaley, thorny creepy crawlies and watching every version of Beauty and the Beast and Cyrano de Bergerac that I can find. And I’m sure I’m not the only one!

Oh, and if the Pixar people could call my people about a Sid’s room novelization, I have a lot of ideas and already know who the main character would be.

Babyface needs some love and her own story, don’t you think?

Onward!

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9 Side Dishes Worth Sharing

This is an amazing story about a Poetry Phone Booth. Now I want one!

I’m a believer that thoughtful and well-crafted games can be considered art, and this was a really interesting look at some of the surprising benefits of video games.

The amazing talked with NPR about why picture books are amazing, and of course it was an absolute delight.

The wise wrote a media guide for authors to help us navigate those waters in 2025.

If you’re a poet or writer who submits regularly to magazines, this was a very cool behind-the-scenes look at response times and the whole submission process from .

A hilarious British actor and writer has been rating every Disney animated film, and even when I disagree with his takes, they’re really thoughtful and a blast to listen to. Each video is only a minute or two, and super fun.

Seven tips from Writers Digest about writing a middle grade novel readers will love.

Need music recs? I’ve been obsessed with Spencer Sutherland lately. Start with this song.

EPCOT.

Share your own favorite sides in the comments!Teacher’s Table

Some goodies especially for the teachers:

5 Books to Help You Think Carefully About Children’s Books by

Everything needed to get your young writers started is here in Tools Not Rules: A Writing Guide for Young Creatives.

Various and free activity sheets up on my Teachers Pay Teachers store! More added all the time, so check back regularly.

I am so, so excited and honored to now be on the roster at the Macmillan Speakers Bureau! For school and other events, you can find my speaker page here!

You guys are rock stars!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for coming along everyone! 1) Subscribe, 2) get a copy of the book bebes, and 3) keep glowing, you shining star you.

-Sarah

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