Saoirse O'Mara is a freelance writer of children's and YA fantasy.
She lives in Germany with her sweetheart and works as freelance editor,
translator, and language teacher whenever she isn't writing.
"I first started writing when I had figured out how to build words
out of these weird shapes we call letters. My probably strongest
memory of an early written piece is from fourth grade, when
My next strong memory, and my first finalized manuscript,
was an adventure book for children, similar to those by Enid Blyton--
my strongest influence back then and my favorite writer for a long time.
I simply loved her Famous Five and Adventure series, among others.
I wrote that manuscript when I was twelve or thirteen, and
completely revised and rewrote it again with sixteen.
It's still sitting on my shelf and on my hard-drive,
and I think apart from my mom, no one has ever read it.
It's nothing to show around (I'm sure my writing style back then was awful),
but it is certainly something to be proud of. I started
and finished a complete manuscript.
I don't remember when I started reading fantasy
but it must have been pretty early on.
With twelve, I read my first book in English (I'm a German native)--
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, followed by
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...and then Lord of the Rings.
Yes, I went from a children's book to High Fantasy
with lots of difficult-to-read descriptions. To be honest,
I'm still not sure I actually understood all of the story
and scenery, but I managed to read through the whole trilogy
and was hooked enough that I bought
and read The Hobbit a year later during a vacation in London."
I wrote a short theatre play that was almost shown at a school festival.
I don't remember anymore what prevented the show,
but I still remember clearly how we practiced for weeks in our breaks.
Introducing the books!!
Age Level: 5 - 10 | Grade Level: K - 4
Benji loses his parents in a car accident
and is sent to live with his grandparents in Ireland.
The problem: He has never met them before,
and he doesn't speak English.
Life in his new home is miserable for him
until he meets some of Ireland's mystical inhabitants and things change....
"The Enchanted Garden" is a modern fairy tale for young and old.
Age Level: 10 - 18 | Grade Level: 4 - 12
You never know when you might end up on the other side of the law....
Govin had no clue how much his life would change
when he signed up for the City Guard in Davon.
A fateful meeting throws him into an adventure
he would never have imagined, not even in his wildest dreams,
and he is left to fix the mess once known as his life.
And if that weren’t enough, there is still a cunning thief to catch….
"Bardon put the quill down and scrutinised his work.
The sketch showed a young girl with untidy hair,
smart eyes and a cute little nose. ‘A pretty girl,’ he remarked. ‘Too bad she's a thief.
She might've grown up to become a beauty,
but I doubt she'll live long enough.
The streets are rough, and the prison's even rougher.’ Govin felt a pang of guilt."
Meet Govin and Tayla as their friendship begins.
Their first meeting doesn't bode well,
but when faced with the choice to save themselves
or do the right thing, they decide to stand up for each other.
Soon, though, things get out of hand and they need help from others.
Will they trust the right persons?
Age Level: 10 - 18 | Grade Level: 4 - 12
Things have changed since Govin and Tayla
solved the mystery of the lost diadem.
Tayla is no longer living in the streets,
and Govin has a new mentor. Life could finally be good.
But looming danger forces them to abandon their ordinary
lives once again to get to the root of a mystery.
Only this time, the whole city of Davon is at stake....
“‘What does that mean for us?’ Govin asked.
‘You have to be very careful. At this point,
the High Mage doesn’t know whom of his teachers
and mages he can still trust, and neither should you.
Trust no one, do you understand? It could cost your life.
I’m sorry that I have to send you on such a dangerous mission,
but you two are the only ones I can send in disguise.
The safety of Davon and the surrounding lands
could depend on your success. Be careful.’”
Follow Tayla and Govin into the Mage Guild of Davon,
where strange things are happening at night.
Is it just a prank of novices,
or is one of the mages preparing for a dark ritual?
Age Level: 10 - 18 | Grade Level: 4 - 12
Imagine you witness a murder but have no clue
who the man was, or why he had to die. Imagine you
stumble into a rat's nest of piracy and greed and put
your own life at stake for the sake of justice.
Imagine you don't know who you can still trust....
"No matter how she looked at it, she ended up with far too many suspects.
How should she ever get to the bottom of the attack
and the murder if almost half the harbour population had a motive?"
Tayla would have never dreamed that her day off might end so terribly--
or that Govin wouldn't find time to help her when she needs him.
Yet she decides that justice can't wait, and she follows her heart
to right a wrong that happened in front of her eyes.
Despite the dangers involved, her resolve stays strong.
But who can she trust when the web of greed
and intrigue threatens to ensnare her?
Age Level: 10 - 18 | Grade Level: 4 - 12
$4.99 on Amazon...
Age Level: 2 - 5 | Grade Level: P - K
Kathi the squirrel, a delightful young girl;
she dreams of adventure, grows wings that will send her,
up high in the air to see things everywhere.
This is a rhyming story for children
who love adventures, animals, and exploring.
Sometimes, fate strikes without warning.
All that is left is to either adapt to the new circumstances
or to falter and succumb to one's sorrow. What would you do?
Dedicated to Michelle Devon.
Saoirse also has a series of "help" books.
You can find more of Saoirse's reads
on her Amazon Author Page at:
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