Paul Bibby
After writing three successful novels for adults, local author Sarah Armstrong could have been forgiven for staying on the same course with her fourth offering.
Instead, the Mullumbimby resident chose the path less travelled and delved into the world of children’s fiction.
The result was Big Magic – a tale about an 11-year-old girl’s attempt to harness her full magical powers to find her mother who has disappeared.
‘When I grew up, we didn’t have a TV or anything and I read a lot – probably a book a day,’ Ms Armstrong says.
‘I felt a joy and an immersion that I kind of lost when I graduated to adult fiction.
‘So I thought “the next book I write I want it to be a kid’s book – I want it to be part of that world, that joy.’
As well as being an exciting, page-turning tale, Big Magic explores themes of family, matrilineal magic and parallel universes.
And it’s set in a town that local readers may find strikingly familiar.
‘The town it’s set in is called Malimba, but it’s really Mullumbimby,’ ms Armstrong says.
The landscape and the nature, it just hit me so hard when I moved here, it changed me.’
‘All of my books are pretty much set here.’
When she’s not writing books, Ms Armstrong also traches others to do so – running numerous workshops, many of them connected to the Byron Writer’s Festival.
‘My number one teaching tool for writers is free writing,’ she says.
‘Writing without stopping or planning anything, and without allowing that inner writing critic to come in. It’s a great way to loosen up and see what ideas emerge.’
‘I do a few local workshops, so if you’re interested, check out my website.’
And if you’re interested in getting a copy of Big Magic you can find one at The Book Room in Byron Bay or Lennox Head.
Or go to www.sarah-armstrong.com.
