Sarah Allen
@sarahallen.bsky.social
Award-winning children's author: WHAT STARS ARE MADE OF, BREATHING UNDERWATER, THE NIGHTMARE HOUSE, MONSTER TREE. I make silly drawings & songs & snuzzle cats. Better at Substack (sarahallen.substack.com)
Interviewed an actual clown (and writer/cartoonist/illustrator) this week and what he had to say was so cool and inspiring and thought provoking. sarahallen.substack.com/p/become-a-c...
Become A Clown, Save Your Writing; with Travis Nichols
We're putting on our writing hats AND our red noses today
sarahallen.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Interviewed an actual clown (and writer/cartoonist/illustrator) this week and what he had to say was so cool and inspiring and thought provoking. sarahallen.substack.com/p/become-a-c...
Reposted by Sarah Allen
Don't miss my interview with middle grade author @sarahallen.bsky.social.
Sarah checks a lot of boxes when it comes to bumps in the publishing road, but she’s gotten to check a lot of the good boxes, too. Don't miss her great advice on The Long Road to Publishing!
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
Sarah checks a lot of boxes when it comes to bumps in the publishing road, but she’s gotten to check a lot of the good boxes, too. Don't miss her great advice on The Long Road to Publishing!
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
Highs & Lows of Author Life | The Long Road to Publishing with Eva Langston
with Sarah Allen
shows.acast.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Don't miss my interview with middle grade author @sarahallen.bsky.social.
Sarah checks a lot of boxes when it comes to bumps in the publishing road, but she’s gotten to check a lot of the good boxes, too. Don't miss her great advice on The Long Road to Publishing!
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
Sarah checks a lot of boxes when it comes to bumps in the publishing road, but she’s gotten to check a lot of the good boxes, too. Don't miss her great advice on The Long Road to Publishing!
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
Reposted by Sarah Allen
Don’t miss this great episode of The Long Road to Publishing with MG author @sarahallen.bsky.social!
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
October 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Don’t miss this great episode of The Long Road to Publishing with MG author @sarahallen.bsky.social!
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
shows.acast.com/the-long-roa...
There are some truly phenomenal family Halloween movies to watch this month, and here are 13 of my favorites: sarahallen.substack.com/p/top-13-fam...
Top 13 Family Halloween Movies To Watch On Family Movie Night
Sarah's Version
sarahallen.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:33 PM
There are some truly phenomenal family Halloween movies to watch this month, and here are 13 of my favorites: sarahallen.substack.com/p/top-13-fam...
Reposted by Sarah Allen
Oct 10 - Middle Grade Horror Books You Should Read Day 10 The Nightmare House by @sarahallen.bsky.social Penny Hope used to be brave, but that was before she met the Fear Maker. Years later, he still haunts her dreams
October 10, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Oct 10 - Middle Grade Horror Books You Should Read Day 10 The Nightmare House by @sarahallen.bsky.social Penny Hope used to be brave, but that was before she met the Fear Maker. Years later, he still haunts her dreams
Eeeee!!! Hit a pretty exciting milestone today over at the newsletter :D sarahallen.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Eeeee!!! Hit a pretty exciting milestone today over at the newsletter :D sarahallen.substack.com
Hello wonderful teacher friends! How about a spooky season no-prep freebie? Halloween writing prompts to use in writing lessons, ice-breakers, independent work, however you want! Ideal for 4th-7th. Totally free here: sarahallen.substack.com/subscribe
October 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Hello wonderful teacher friends! How about a spooky season no-prep freebie? Halloween writing prompts to use in writing lessons, ice-breakers, independent work, however you want! Ideal for 4th-7th. Totally free here: sarahallen.substack.com/subscribe
Happy death day to the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. I'm sure he'd want us to celebrate.
October 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Happy death day to the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. I'm sure he'd want us to celebrate.
My current adult WIP has multiple POVs, and I’m really nervous about being able to pull it off. My goal is to get something in the vein of Thursday Murder Club style. We’ll see if it will work. In the meantime, outlining in notecards and Tim Burton movies are helping!
October 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
My current adult WIP has multiple POVs, and I’m really nervous about being able to pull it off. My goal is to get something in the vein of Thursday Murder Club style. We’ll see if it will work. In the meantime, outlining in notecards and Tim Burton movies are helping!
This is so great!!! Thank you :D :D :D
Today's featured book is a middle grade spooky story by @sarahallen.bsky.social, and it's perfect for fall. Watch the video to find out more, and then check out our interview to get a behind-the-scenes view, too. 😊
youtu.be/wAy9dUcknLU?...
#bookreview #middlegrade #spookystory
youtu.be/wAy9dUcknLU?...
#bookreview #middlegrade #spookystory
Book Review: Monster Tree
YouTube video by @MaryLanniReads
youtu.be
September 29, 2025 at 4:37 PM
This is so great!!! Thank you :D :D :D
I always feel icky writing about social media, and that’s not what this is, I promise. This interview is not about being an “influencer” or gaming the algorithm or whatever. It’s about creating great stuff for a great audience. sarahallen.substack.com/p/creating-s...
Millions of views creating content for kids, with Sarah Maddack
and the middle grade draft is FINISHED!!
sarahallen.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I always feel icky writing about social media, and that’s not what this is, I promise. This interview is not about being an “influencer” or gaming the algorithm or whatever. It’s about creating great stuff for a great audience. sarahallen.substack.com/p/creating-s...
There is such great insight in this interview with kid lit bookseller Melissa LaSalle! Her hot take about "writing the book you wish you had as a child" is one I'll be thinking about for a while. sarahallen.substack.com/p/lets-see-w...
Let's see what kid lit booksellers are *actually* looking for, with Melissa LaSalle (aka The Book Mommy)
Hint: It's not the book you wished you had as a child.
sarahallen.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
There is such great insight in this interview with kid lit bookseller Melissa LaSalle! Her hot take about "writing the book you wish you had as a child" is one I'll be thinking about for a while. sarahallen.substack.com/p/lets-see-w...
Day 2 of my silly lil Back To School Animal Alphabet Countdown :)
August 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Day 2 of my silly lil Back To School Animal Alphabet Countdown :)
Happy August, and happy Back To School!
I wanted to write some limericks and draw some animals, so we're doing an Animal Alphabet Back To School Countdown! Today: A for Aphid. And we're giving away some back to school bundles while we're at it. Teachers, hope this helps! sarahallen.substack.com
I wanted to write some limericks and draw some animals, so we're doing an Animal Alphabet Back To School Countdown! Today: A for Aphid. And we're giving away some back to school bundles while we're at it. Teachers, hope this helps! sarahallen.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Happy August, and happy Back To School!
I wanted to write some limericks and draw some animals, so we're doing an Animal Alphabet Back To School Countdown! Today: A for Aphid. And we're giving away some back to school bundles while we're at it. Teachers, hope this helps! sarahallen.substack.com
I wanted to write some limericks and draw some animals, so we're doing an Animal Alphabet Back To School Countdown! Today: A for Aphid. And we're giving away some back to school bundles while we're at it. Teachers, hope this helps! sarahallen.substack.com
Reposted by Sarah Allen
I love spooky stories and this anthology includes some amazing authors! Just added to my #BookPosse TBR pile. Maybe the extreme triple digit heat will break so we can read the stories outside while making s’mores! @allymalinenko.bsky.social @sarahallen.bsky.social @owlhollowpress.bsky.social
July 26, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I love spooky stories and this anthology includes some amazing authors! Just added to my #BookPosse TBR pile. Maybe the extreme triple digit heat will break so we can read the stories outside while making s’mores! @allymalinenko.bsky.social @sarahallen.bsky.social @owlhollowpress.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
THIS A MILLION TIMES THIS!!!
All these folks are really great, but your local children's librarian can get you a personally curated list based on a relationship with your child and what they have enjoyed in the past. Don't forget your public library as an essential resource.
a man is waving his hand in front of a crowd of people on a television show .
Alt: a man is waving his hand in front of a crowd of people on a television show .
media.tenor.com
July 23, 2025 at 7:40 PM
THIS A MILLION TIMES THIS!!!
But really, there are people out there to help so you never have to wonder what books to get for your kiddos again. Let me know if I've missed anyone! sarahallen.substack.com/p/the-master...
The master list of where to find book recommendations for your kids
You don't have to figure this out alone
sarahallen.substack.com
July 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
But really, there are people out there to help so you never have to wonder what books to get for your kiddos again. Let me know if I've missed anyone! sarahallen.substack.com/p/the-master...
Do audiobooks count as reading? Let's talk to a Certfied Academic Language Therapist about it.
July 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Do audiobooks count as reading? Let's talk to a Certfied Academic Language Therapist about it.
Authors—want your books to reach all kids, including those with dyslexia?
👇
I interviewed Kathy Tenney, a Certified Academic Language Therapist with 30+ years helping struggling readers. I absolutely LOVED what she said. 🧵
👇
I interviewed Kathy Tenney, a Certified Academic Language Therapist with 30+ years helping struggling readers. I absolutely LOVED what she said. 🧵
July 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Authors—want your books to reach all kids, including those with dyslexia?
👇
I interviewed Kathy Tenney, a Certified Academic Language Therapist with 30+ years helping struggling readers. I absolutely LOVED what she said. 🧵
👇
I interviewed Kathy Tenney, a Certified Academic Language Therapist with 30+ years helping struggling readers. I absolutely LOVED what she said. 🧵
Today in the newsletter we're talking about 1) making summer reading a positive thing for all your kiddos and 2) teaching myself art with a clinically spatially inept brain. Come on over and tell me what you're working on and what you're reading! sarahallen.substack.com/p/ear-readin...
"Ear reading" and other ways to help your (neurodivergent) kid read this summer, with language therapist Kathy Tenney
And learning to draw with a spatially-inept brain.
sarahallen.substack.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Today in the newsletter we're talking about 1) making summer reading a positive thing for all your kiddos and 2) teaching myself art with a clinically spatially inept brain. Come on over and tell me what you're working on and what you're reading! sarahallen.substack.com/p/ear-readin...
Some time ago I submitted a pitch for a WFH project, and went full dorky Sarah on it, figuring it would either hit the mark or…way not. But they chose my pitch! And this morning I turned in the first part of the project, and honestly, I’m thrilled! Can't wait to tell y'all more!
June 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Some time ago I submitted a pitch for a WFH project, and went full dorky Sarah on it, figuring it would either hit the mark or…way not. But they chose my pitch! And this morning I turned in the first part of the project, and honestly, I’m thrilled! Can't wait to tell y'all more!
Ahhhh!!! Anyone wanna be the one to take us over the 900 mark?? sarahallen.substack.com
June 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Ahhhh!!! Anyone wanna be the one to take us over the 900 mark?? sarahallen.substack.com
I'm only sorry I didn't put exactly Eleven on this list. (There are so many more I could have added!)
June 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I'm only sorry I didn't put exactly Eleven on this list. (There are so many more I could have added!)
Because summer is hot and we're tired and ain't got time nor energy to waste, y'all. sarahallen.substack.com/p/low-energy...
low energy habits that improved my writing practice
11 tips that may help you, including a monster named Frank
sarahallen.substack.com
June 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Because summer is hot and we're tired and ain't got time nor energy to waste, y'all. sarahallen.substack.com/p/low-energy...