About Sarah

I “always” knew I wanted to be a writer. I remember the exact moment: I was looking at a picture book and realized there were authors behind all the stories I loved so much, and I just knew that was who I was meant to be too. (I think I was around 5.)

I devoured books from an early age and remember spending my childhood in the library stacks. I was especially drawn to books about myth and magic, and I wrote my first “novel” in the first grade, a dystopian fantasy about alien unicorns who arrived on Earth via meteor to save the world.

In my early teens, I developed a thing for mysteries. I binged Nancy Drew novels and started writing similar stories. I remember rushing home from school to beat my siblings to the family Apple IIe computer (yes, I’m that old!) so I could hash away at my stories.

So it’s no surprise that today, I love to mix my passion for mystery and fantasy. In addition to writing children’s picture books, I’m also at work on a middle-grade fantasy series filled with plenty of mystery and a series of cozy mysteries for adults featuring a witchy protagonist.

I’m also a big-time advocate of diverse books because I believe all kids deserve representation. As a woman born into a larger body and the mom of a mixed kid, with whom I share some neuro-spiciness, I know first-hand how important it is to see oneself represented in stories, especially popular stories. It’s also just as important for members of non-marginalized or other varied identities to read books that feature characters unlike themselves as it helps foster empathy for those from diverse backgrounds.

Currently, I reside in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio where I live with my amazing husband and super kid, with whom I wrote a children’s picture book coming in May 2025!

Official Bio

Sarah Elizabeth Graves is the author of the forthcoming children’s picture book Attack of the Monster Pickles!, which she co-wrote with her 9-year-old son. She’s also the author of numerous non-fiction articles and personal essays that have appeared in print and online media, including USA Today, Healthline, and Business Insider. Sarah holds a Ph.D. in mythological studies, and when she’s not busy writing stories about myth and magic, she teaches English, and is the coordinator of the writing center at Ohio Wesleyan University. She lives in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and son, where you can find them binge-watching superhero movies, creating stories together, and regularly discussing “facts” about mythological creatures — because you never know when a dragon might show up on your doorstep. Learn more at sarahelizabethgraves.com.