Sarah J. Carlson, Author

Everything’s Not Fine is a Kirkus 2020 Best of…

I’m beyond honored to share that my Contemporary Young Adult novel Everything’s Not Fine was nominated as a Kirkus YA Best Books of 2020 About Finding Inner Strength. For most of my formative years, I lived in small Wisconsin towns; these places helped shape me into who I am today. Growing up, I never read a book set in Wisconsin, let alone small-town Wisconsin. That’s a big part of why I chose…

EVERYTHING’S NOT FINE is officially out in the world

My second young adult novel Everything’s Not Fine is out today.

I started this novel over five years ago while feeling homesick living in Singapore. It’s gone through a lot of growing pains since I first started writing it, cutting an entire point-of-view character, cutting an entire storyline, and re-writing the remaining storyline from the ground up. I still cannot believe it’s now a published…

ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST is nominated for an award

I’m beyond honored to announce that All the Walls of Belfast is a finalist for the National Readers Choice Award!

This is the first award either of my books has been up to win. Unfortunately, due to COVID there won’t be an in-person awards ceremony, but it’s so exciting to see the story I dreamed up after a trip to Belfast, my first book baby, be nominated for a national award.

Goodreads Giveaway for EVERYTHING’S NOT FINE

There’s currently a Goodreads giveaway running for Everything’s Not Fine. If you’d like a shot at getting an early read of an advanced copy, click here!

Here’s a bit more about Everything’s Not Fine.

Seventeen-year-old Rose Hemmersbach aspires to break free of small-town Sparta, Wisconsin and achieve her artistic dreams at Belwyn School for the Arts after she graduates. Painting is Rose’s escape…

It’s so hard to believe All the Walls of Belfast, my debut novel that took over five years to write, has been out of over a year. It’s still a little surreal.

Here’s a bit more about All the Walls of Belfast:

The Carnival at Bray meets West Side Storyin Sarah Carlson’s powerful YA debut; set in post-conflict Belfast (Northern Ireland), alternating between two teenagers, both trying to understand…

Pre-Order/Library Request Swag for EVERYTHING’S NOT FINE

Everything’s Not Fine is out in three months! Email me a screenshot of your proof of purchase or request for Everything’s Not Finefrom your local library, and I’ll send you custom stickers inspired by the story and an autographed book plate. US/Canada only, must be 18 or have parent permission to enter. As long as supplies last. Offer ends May 26th, 2020. My email is [email protected].

Get on the Early Reader List for EVERYTHING’S NOT FINE

It’s so hard to believe, but a box of Advance Review Copies for my second young adult novel, Everything’s Not Fine, is on the way! It’s really happening…

If you’re a librarians, book blogger, bookstagrammer, vlogger, or frequent reviewer on Goodreads/Amazon/B&N and want a chance to snag an ARC of Everything’s Not Fine, you can submit your name for consideration on the early reader list.

Here’s a…

EVERYTHING’S NOT FINE Cover Reveal

Meet Rose, the heroine of my second YA novel Everything’s Not Fine

Seventeen-year-old Rose Hemmersbach aspires to break out of small town Sparta, Wisconsin and achieve her artistic dreams at Belwyn School for the Arts after she graduates. Painting is Rose’s escape from her annoying younger siblings and her family’s one rule: ignore the elephant in the room, because talking about it makes it real.

Announcing a new book

I’m so excited to announce I have a new Young Adult book coming out next May from Turner Publishing Company.

Everything’s Not Fineis about seventeen-year-old Rose Hemmersbach, who aspires to break out of small town Sparta, Wisconsin and achieve her artistic dreams at Belwyn School for the Arts. Painting is Rose’s escape from her annoying younger siblings and her family’s one rule: ignore the…

Image courtesy of Netflix

“Whatever you do, don’t slag off the Pope. We’re outnumbered!”

This line comes from an episode of Derry Girls. You may have noticed it trending on Netflix lately. Originally on Channel 4 in the U.K., “Derry Girls” follows the hilarious antics of five awkward and often misguided teens as they try to navigate the universal struggles of teen-dom. But against the…

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To learn more about the pictures, and a deeper context of the book, check out my Instagram story--a tour of the settings featured in ATWOB. 

ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST and the Legacy of the Aftermath

My debut novel All the Walls of Belfast, set in post-Troubles Belfast, Northern Ireland, centers around two teens grappling with the fallout of their parents’ pasts as they strive to define their own futures. But one ugly truth, not the peace wall between their neighborhoods, might tear them apart.

One of the core themes of All the Walls of Belfastrevolves around the legacy of trauma being passed…

My research process for ALL THE WALLS OF BELFAST

The creation of my debut novel All the Walls of Belfast (out March 12th, 2019 by Turner Publishing Company) was quite an undertaking and would not have been possible without the help of many people and a ton of research. I am an American telling a story that is not mine. As such, I feel it’s absolutely essential to share the process I used to create this story.

Travels in Northern Ireland

I first…