Sarah Barnard - Author

Sarah is a single mother living in middle England, which she describes as a bit like Middle Earth apart from the walking trees. She shares her home with two young children and a mini menagerie of an elderly guinea pig and a handful of assorted chickens, kept mainly for the compost they create for the garden and the veg scrap disposal they perform as well as the daily fresh eggs.

She has always written but never seriously until the breakdown of her long term relationship in 2005 created a big change in direction and when a very good friend said "Go on, I dare you!" on the eve of the NaNoWriMo writing challenge, Sarah just couldn't say no. The result of that dare is The Portal Between and Sarah hasn't stopped writing since.

Both the first two main Portal series titles, The Portal Between and The Portal Sundered, and the spin off title, The Map and The Stone, can be found on Sarah's website with integrated blog: http://sarahbarnard.co.uk Both titles are also available through your local library and book shops, but you might have to ask for them.

Sarah writes late at night after the children are in bed and always carries a notebook wherever she goes. She prefers to use either the computer to write or when it has to be on paper it has to be a fountain pen, a good one, and rich black ink.

Sarah tries to live a life as gentle and eco friendly as is possible while living in a market town. She grows some of her own vegetables, keeps chickens and loves pottering about in the garden when she's not baking or doing things with her kids. She also runs a self publishing business online under the name of Ethics Trading and can be found on various forums under various names. If you stumble across her she'd be glad for people to say Hi!

Comments on her blog are always welcome but Sarah's preferences are clearly stated in her Comments Guidelines:

Please feel free to leave a comment, or join in a discussion but please also let me know who are. Initials or a pseudonym are fine. Anonymous comments may be deleted without warning or explanation, as will comments considered to be defamatory or abusive.

Sarah is always happy to sign copies of books bought directly through her sites on request, please ask nicely when you order.

Kate was racing down the garden with a hastily grabbed blanket. She skidded to a halt on her knees in the mud, as Sam managed to get to her hands and knees and raise her head. Her face was filthy and one eye almost swollen shut, old crusted blood stained the corner of her mouth. Arms and shoulders too thin and covered in bruises, she struggled to sit up. She was shivering and cold, wearing a thin tunic style top with short sleeves, belted at the waist. It hung over woollen leggings and her feet were bare.
Kate flung the blanket round Sam's shoulders and hugged her tight. Tears flowed freely down both sets of cheeks. Sam took Kate carefully by the shoulders and gently pushed her away.
"I don't have long." She said, nervously glancing round, "It's following me, it'll be here in a moment. Can you help me?" Kate nodded, speechless but her mind racing, "Meet me by the old oak, at midnight..." She drew a startled breath, eyes widening, "It's here!" Stared over Kate's shoulder. Kate turned to see a blinding white light whirl into being and a monstrous grey green scaled arm reach out to take firm hold of Sam. She shoved Kate roughly away, yelled "Midnight, light my way! Don't forget! Please!" her voice pleading as she was dragged away, leaving Kate kneeling on the grass, clutching only a muddy blanket.

At the end of The Portal Between, Lily returned alone; Kate hoped Sam would follow and Kate's world was rocked again. Sam has problems of her own, the magic is out of control, and Lily can't help this time. Kate tries to pull her life back together but it's hard and she finds comfort where she can. But who else can wield the magic? Who challenges Sam's right to rule?