WHISTLER LOCAL AUTHOR; SARA LEACH
WHISTLER LOCAL AUTHOR; SARA LEACH
Posted on July 24, 2024
With a deep love for storytelling, Sara Leach brings her imagination to life through her lively and fun plots. Crystal Lodge is proud to partner with Leach, featuring her captivating story, Against The Tide, in our Sleep Stories collection for guests to enjoy. Listen Here.
Sara, an accomplished author of nine children’s books, frequently shares her work with Whistler’s local community at the library. Beyond her writing, she is committed to nurturing young minds as a teacher-librarian at the local elementary school.
You can now purchase one of her books, Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide, at Crystal Lodge! Purchase your copy at the front desk or conveniently add it to your cart when booking your Whistler vacation today. It’s the perfect Whistler BC souvenir!
Let’s hear more about Sara in her own words!
Sara Leach, author
WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?
I write for the moments when I’m so involved in my story that I make myself laugh or my own heart rate increases because of the tension. I was specifically inspired to write Jake Reynolds: Against the Tide because I’ve been lucky enough to visit an island up the coast of BC every summer since I was a child. Hidalgo Island, where the book takes place, and many of the events in the book, are loosely based on my experiences.
WHAT MAKES YOU CONNECT WITH THE CHARACTERS IN YOUR BOOKS?
My main characters often share a lot of the feelings I had a a child—a desire to be part of the group and to follow the rules. When I write an antagonist, it is fun to delve into what might make them tick. Why do they act the way they do?
Tourism Whistler/Mike Crane
WHAT CAN READERS EXPECT NEXT FROM YOU?
I have two middle-grade novel manuscripts waiting for revisions and am almost finished a first draft of an adult novel. But none of the three has been accepted by a publisher yet, so it will be at least a few years before there is a new book on the shelves. In the meantime, readers can check out my other children’s books at Armchair Books in Whistler.
HOW DOES LIVING IN WHISTLER INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIVITY?
When I’m stuck in my writing, nothing is better than a good walk in the forest behind my house to unblock me. I love having such easy access to beautiful, forested trails. Professionally, the Whistler Writers Festival has been key to my writing. Every fall, hundreds of people gather here to listen to top Canadian writers talk about their books, their craft and the industry. It is one of my favourite weekends of the year.
WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU WISH SOMEONE WOULD ASK YOU BUT NEVER HAS?
How does the process differ when you are writing a picture book vs. a middle-grade novel vs. an adult book? A picture book is like writing poetry, even if it isn’t rhyming book. Every word has to have a reason for being there. A first draft might not take very long to write—a few hours or days—but rewriting can feel like it takes forever. Middle-grade novels are wonderful, because structurally, they are like any good book, with plot, tension and character development, but they are shorter, which makes them feel manageable. I’m enjoying the process of writing an adult novel, too. I like the freedom to write whatever I like—I don’t have to worry about swearing or references that a young audience wouldn’t understand. But revising an 80,000-word manuscript is a whole different ballgame from working on a 300-word picture book!