Sarah Styf

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

I have taught high school English for over 20 years, I've been married to my husband for even longer, and we have two teenage children. When I'm not teaching and running all over the place to take care of our two busy kids, I enjoy writing and reading. We are avid campers and try to spend most of our vacation time traveling to new state and national parks, enjoying the outdoors while sleeping in our travel trailer. I took up running in my 30s and I love many outdoor activities: running, biking, and hiking.

When and why did you start writing books?

I've been writing for a public audience for over ten years, but I didn't think to write my first book until a few years ago when I decided to take many of those blog posts and essays and put them into a collection so I could have them all in one place to pass along to my kids. I plan to keep writing books because I want to do more of that record-keeping, although someday I plan to write a novel. Isn't that what every writer is supposed to say?

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

As an English major and high school English teacher, writing has always been a part of my life. I don't know that it will ever be a full-time career for me, but it will always be a part of who I am. I am a better teacher and mom when I take the time to write and reflect and improve upon my own craft.

Who is your favourite author and book?

The book that had the biggest influence on me as a teenager was Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. The book that had the biggest influence on me as an adult has been Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club.

What book are you reading right now?

I have so many books going at one time. I usually have one audiobook and at least two paperbacks at a time for different locations and different purposes. Right now one of those books is Kristin Hannah's The Women.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I read a lot and listen to a lot of podcasts, but in addition to my desire to know all the things about everything, most of my inspiration comes from my personal experience.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Since I teach full-time, I write and read books in my spare time. But being a mom to two busy teenagers also means that I don't have much extra spare time.

Do you have any new books in the works?

I am currently working on a camping memoir about our family's first 20 years of camping experiences and how it shaped us. It will be published in Summer 2024.