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Sarah J. Carlson

@sjcarlsonauthor

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YA author of EVERYTHING'S NOT FINE (a 2020 Kirkus Best YA About Finding Inner Strength) and ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST. New YA book out Spring 2028.

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EVERYTHING’S NOT FINE was selected by Kirkus Reviews as a Best YA Book of 2020 About Finding Inner Strength. I’m beyond honored to be featured on such a list because my goal was to tell a story of discovering resilience.
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To celebrate, I’m giving away some signed copies in exchange for an honest review. Reviews are SO CRITICAL to get the word out about books! Keep reading for details.
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Seventeen-year-old Rose uses art and cashiering at Walmart to ignore the elephant in the room—Mom’s heroin addiction. That is, until Mom almost dies of an overdose, leaving Rose to help her dad pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. After she’s forced into doing a homecoming painting with the new boy, Rafa, she discovers the power of admitting everything’s not fine.
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To enter, tag a friend or DM me by 12/26. Open US only (so sorry, stay tuned for an international opportunity soon). Must be 18 or have parent permission to enter. Those selected will be notified by 12/27 in my story.
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#bookstagram #yabookstagram #bookblogger #yabookblogger #freebook #librariansofinstagram #booklove #bibliophile #booktube #booktok #yareaders #yareadersofinstagram #bookreviewer #yabooklover #booknerdigan #bookgiveaway #yabook #yaromance #yacontemporary #yacontemporaryromance #youngadultbooks #opioidawareness #youngadultbooksgram @novel19s by @sjcarlsonauthor

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6 years ago

A new YA novel by Sarah J. Carlson is coming to captivate your hearts in Spring 2028! 😍

World rights to Play to My Heart, a young adult romance written by Sarah J. Carlson (All the Walls of Belfast and Everything’s Not Fine) acquired by editor Claire Bennet at Nimbus Publishing. Set in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, this dual-POV story follows Charlotte, an ocean activist with an unshakeable life plan, and Pollux, a teen actor filming his next movie on Charlotte’s family’s lobster fishing boat. After a chance encounter brings them together, the ugly realities of Pollux’s world threaten to rip everything apart. by @sjcarlsonauthor

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15 days ago

Two months until my YA contemporary debut ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST hits the shelves from @turnerpub . In honor of that, I’m revealing another official blurb by an amazing YA author @Marie_marquardt whose books tackle immigration and other critical issues. I cannot believe how perfectly this one sentence encapsulates my book ❤️. To celebrate, I’m giving away one of her fabulous books! Keep reading for details.
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But first, here’s what #allthewallsofbelfast is all about. .
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THE CARNIVAL AT BRAY meets WESTSIDE STORY
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Fiona and Danny were born in the same hospital. Fiona’s mom fled to the US when she was two, but long after the Troubles ended, a fourth-foot-tall peace wall still separates her dad’s Catholic neighborhood from Danny’s Protestant neighborhood. After chance brings Danny and Fiona together, their love of the band Fading Stars, big dreams, and desire to run away from their families unites them. Danny and Fiona must help one another overcome the burden of their parents’ pasts. But one ugly truth might shatter everything.
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Now back to the giveaway. Stand a chance to win your choice of Dream Things True, The Radius of Us, or Flight Season. To enter, add ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST to your TBR on Goodreads by 1/20/19 (link in my bio). Tag friends in comments for extra entries. Open anywhere Book Depository ships.
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#amreading #giveaway #freebooks #writersofinstagram #novel19s #bookstagram #yabookstagram #bookblogger #booklove #bookish #yalit #ireadya #yabooks by @sjcarlsonauthor

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8 years ago

As a YA author and writer mom, there are definitely more than five things I need to write… but the most important thing is occasional large chunks of time to dig deep jnto writing, hopefully even achieving that magical flow state. This is especially important for me in the beginning stages of the first draft and when tackling major rewrites that require high level decision making.

Of course, I need coffee. It’s a stereotype based in reality for me. Coffee is key to the writer life. Lots of coffee. I also like to collect tangible things that capture bits of my WIPs to help ground myself in my story.

My plotting process is chaotic and character driven, so I like having post it notes I can easily move around. Also writing things by hand triggers my brain differently.

All photographs taken by me. #writerspromptparty #writerlife #writergram #writingcommunity #lovetowrite 5 things I need to write as an author mom taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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9 days ago

My writer set-up as an author mom who works full-time….

Often it’s whatever I can carry in my bag, because I end up working lots of random places 🤣

But when I have the time and mental energy to work at home, I have a home office I share with my husband and a little reading/writing nook I use sometimes when I don’t need to spread out over a table. #writerspromptparty #amwriting #authormom #writerlife #writingcommunity Where I write as a writer mom who works full-time taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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10 days ago

A week in the life of an author mom who works full-time.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT…

I’ve been writing while mom-ing and working full-time through a pandemic, a move to a new country, and enduring some pretty crushing lows in the trad pubbed world. But finally, I’m excited to announce a new YA Romance coming Spring 2028 🩷

This means more writing tasks, and this week, I’ve been super productive talking lots of different phases, from researching and developing a new project to brainstorming cover designs for my new book🥰
#writerlife #authormom #canadianbookstagram #booksta #canadianauthor taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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11 days ago

My writing aesthetic…. coffee, writing wherever I can, lots of writing journals. #writerspromptparty #writerlife #amwriting #writersofinstagram taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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12 days ago

I always love a good prompt party! I’m going in on the October #writerspromptparty

Here’s my Author Origin Story.

I write YA genres with rich characters and (usually) a dash of romance. I’m so excited to share I HAVE A BOOK COMING OUT Spring 2028.

I’m currently having so much fun exploring the YA mystery/thriller genre; in addition to researching genre and some of the worldbuilding elements, I’m pulling together the plot—which is so excited. I can’t wait until I’m ready to actually start writing!

Looking forward to meeting other authors this month! #bookstagram #amwriting #writingcommunity Author origin story for Sarah Carlson YA author taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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13 days ago

I did a thing recently…. Big news coming ❤️❤️❤️ Picture taken by my daughter. #authorlife #writerlife #amwriting #momswhowrite taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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13 days ago

An honest “week in the life” of a trad pubbed author mom who works full time. The author part of my life doesn’t always happen every day. I have a list of different things I’m working on, ranging from researching genre to publicity, and, when I have a free moment, I take inventory of my brain state and work on a task that matches what I can do effectively. It’s messy, and it’s not easy, but it’s good to have a consistent income source and a rich sense of identity beyond being an author.
#writermom #authormom #writerlife #amwriting taken in Nova Scotia, Canada by @sjcarlsonauthor

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18 days ago

Fall vibes. Bonfire on a cool night with my next TBR HEARTBREAK HOMES, a YA Thriller/murder mystery. Even scored a signed copy from @blockshopbooks ❤️ #amreading #booksta #booklover #yabooks Reading young adult books by a bonfire. Fall vibes taken in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia by @sjcarlsonauthor

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a month ago

Absolutely adored Rick as a character, and the contrast between what the world thought of him and who he was on the inside. The author also did such a good job portraying the awkwardness of initiating first love in a ya novel.

Loved the witty banter and deep, caring friendships.

The premise is fascinating, and I found the detective work done by the teens believable and plausible.

Definitely recommend! #amreadi̇ng #bookstagram #booklover #yabooks by @sjcarlsonauthor

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a month ago