Sarah Bourne

Sarah Bourne is an English-born counselor, yoga teacher, and author known for her works in YA paranormal romance and adult fiction. She debuted with the novel Never Laugh at Shadows in 2014.

Sarah Bourne was born and raised in England. She also lived in Japan and the USA before settling in Sydney, Australia.

Bourne began writing in 2006, intending to craft a short story. Instead, she wrote a YA paranormal romance trilogy based on the ghost stories of Berry Pomeroy Castle in the UK. Reflecting on this experience, she remarked, "Writing is hard, but I was hooked."

Her writing career progressed with a dystopian novel for the YA market, soon to be published by Typology Publishing using a multimodal platform. She then transitioned to adult fiction, with her first published novel being Never Laugh at Shadows.

She finds human behavior endlessly fascinating and incorporates this into her writing. She also teaches yoga and volunteers at a hospice, writing biographies for people with life-limiting illnesses.

In 2017, Sarah won the Hunter Writer’s Centre prize for her short story, The Sounds Of You, included in the Grieve Anthology.

Recently, Sarah signed a multi-book contract with Bloodhound Books in the UK. Her first novel under this contract, The Train, was published on 29 March 2021. She also writes mysteries under the pen name Sarah St. George.

The Train explores how strangers react when someone commits suicide in front of them. Inspired by her mother's dementia diagnosis, Sarah delved into how people confront mortality. "Grief sharpens your focus," she noted.

Ella’s War (2021) is set during and after World War II. Initially intended as a comedy, it transformed into a story about a nurse dealing with trauma and amnesia. Sarah researched the era and incorporated a love interest to balance the heavy themes.

InVisible (2021) addresses terrorism, inspired by a radio interview about solitary confinement's psychological effects. "It had to be terrorism," Sarah explained, "to justify solitary confinement without charges."

Exile (2022) explores erotomania and obsessive love disorder. Sarah drew from her experiences studying psychology and interacting with affected individuals. The book examines the protagonist's tumultuous relationships and her attempts to find a resolution.

When Lives Collide (2022) is a novel about grief and family violence. Sarah said, "I see so many people in my counseling service who are dealing with abuse at home. Writing about it helps raise awareness."

Sarah Bourne lives in Sydney with her husband, three teenage children, two mad, untrainable dogs, and a long-suffering cat.

Photo credit: FB @writingsarahb