THE IDEA FOR SARAH JANE'S DARING DEED

This story, which has becme one of my favorites, resulted from research I was doing for a column on local history for a weekly newspaper. As I read about the lives of the early pioneers sho settled the region of New Hampshire where my family and I reside, I wondered, "What was it like for youngsters to live here during that time?"

As I pondered upon this, the story of Sarah Jane evolved. She and her family settled in the latter 1700s or thereabouts far from their city home. Because I live in New Hampshire and my research was focused here, the story, in my mind, took place here.

The story was published in four church school magazines for youngsters. (I retained the rights.) Possibly it appealed to editors all over the country because I didn't name the town or state where Sarah Jane lived and encountered Little Fawn. Therefore, it could have been set in many areas where blackberries grew. (In the opening scene, Sarah Jane is picking them.)

When I was asked to compile an anthology of my children's stories, Tales of Adventure & Discovery, I chose this one as the lead story. It's a story I've always enjoyed and children do when I visit schools and libraries. My daughter even made dolls of Sarah Jane and Little Fawn to accompany me to school.

(c)2006

(If you have questions about Sarah Jane and my programs for schools and writers' groups, e-mail me: me.allen@juno.com. Type "Sarah Jane's blog" in the subject line. )

WHY A SARAH JANE BLOG?

My short story for children, Sarah Jane's Daring Deed, seems the most popular of all those I've written.

*It's been published in four magazines (I retained the rights) and in the anthology.

* Youngsters like it best when I read stories in schools.

*My daughter has made dolls to accompany the story.

*I'm working on a picture book version of the story.

*I also am developing a number of activities that teachers and home schooling parents can use evolving out of the story.

*When I've taught workshops in schools, Sarah Jane's story often is the springboard for the student's writing.

Young readers have asked me, "Why don't you write more adventures for Sarah Jane, her family, and Little Fawn?"

So....why not a blog about Sarah Jane?