Waterford-based author says writing for kids is good for people with a sense of humour
Sarah Bowie leading a workshop for third-class students.
Sarah Bowie is a best-selling children’s book author who is based in Waterford. Her latest book in her ‘Nina Peanut’ series, ‘Major Drama Alert’, is already a fan favourite.
Ella O’Byrne, a third-class student at St. John of God's, told the that the book was “very interesting and fun to read". She said she especially liked the inclusion of “the new boy in the book who’s very good at skateboarding.”
Her fellow classmate, Ruby Grace, concurred, although her favourite book in the Nina Peanut series was “the one about the Golden Banana Hotel” due to its poetic irony.
“Nina Peanut: World Tour Era” is about how frenemy Megan pretends she is going to a fancy hotel in the Maldives but ends up in a sun lounger next to Nina at a less-than-posh ‘Sunshiney Island’.
The girls told the News & Star that the Nina Peanut books are so good, they can read the entire thing in just one day.
Ella said, “Nina Peanut is one of my favourite series.”
When asked why she thinks her books are so appealing, Sarah told the News & Star: “The fact that they’re so visual is appealing for neurodivergent kids and kids with dyslexia.”
She said: “I put a lot of feelings and emotions into the characters, and I think that’s something the kids can relate to.”
She continued: “I want to keep my books accessible for kids but I don’t want to talk down to them or make it so bland that it's boring. What I really enjoy about writing for kids is that it’s a real outlet to be funny. Kids are very open to humour, and I have a really wacky and childish sense of humour, and I can really indulge.”
Sarah moved to Waterford from Dublin during Covid: “I was paying a lot of money on rent, like everybody else. My parents had moved to Wexford so I moved down to stay with them temporarily. When things started to open back up, I started coming down to Waterford to the co-working space ‘Boxworks’, and I fell in love with Waterford.”
“It was much more affordable, and it meant I could quit the day job and go full-time doing writing.”
Sarah used to work as a graphic designer for the multinational company ‘Acenture’.
When the two third-class groups arrived at The Book Centre to meet Sarah, their chairs suddenly transformed into makeshift artist's easels and within two minutes, a mini army of illustrators had been created.
