Sara Zarr

Sara Zarr is a highly acclaimed American author, well-known for her works of fiction and non-fiction. She was born in Cleveland and has established herself as a National Book Award finalist and two-time winner of the Utah Book Award. Sara's writing is known to be both simple and profound, capturing the hearts of young adults and the young-at-heart alike.

Sara has an impressive bibliography, with ten published books, including her latest work, "Goodbye from Nowhere," and "Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life," a book on creativity aimed at young readers. Her debut novel, "Story of a Girl," was adapted into a television movie in 2017, directed by Kyra Sedgwick. Sara's books have been recognized and featured in various annual best books lists of esteemed institutions, such as the American Library Association, Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, and the School Library Journal. Her work has been translated into multiple languages, showcasing her international appeal.

In addition to her work as an author, Sara has contributed essays, creative non-fiction, and short fiction to various publications, including Image, Hunger Mountain online, Response, Gather, and Relief Journal. She is also a MacDowell Fellow (2014) and has served as a judge for the National Book Award. Sara's dedication to the literary world extends to her role as the host and producer of the "This Creative Life" podcast, which she launched in 2012 and resumed in 2020. She currently resides in California and Utah with her husband and their cat, Mr. Donut.
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 Story of a Girl 2007
2 Sweethearts 2008
3 Once Was Lost / What We Lost 2009
4 How to Save a Life 2011
5 The Lucy Variations 2013
6 Roomies 2013
7 Gem Dixie 2017
8 Goodbye from Nowhere 2020
9 A Song Called Home 2022
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 Courageous Creativity 2020
2 This Creative Life: A Handbook for Writers 2022
Sara Zarr Anthologies
# Title Year
1 Does This Book Make Me Look Fat? 2008
2 Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd 2009
3 Dear Teen Me 2012
4 Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles 2018