The Short Story:
Sara was born and raised in Hawai‘i and writes books about bold women in wild places. She likes her books with a little mystery, a lot of nature, and at least one animal. She does most of her writing from her porch, where distractions are plentiful.

The Long Story:
Sara Ackerman is the Hawai'i born, bestselling author of historical & contemporary novels set in the islands. Her books have been labeled “unforgettable” by Apple Books, “empowering & deliciously visceral” by Book Riot, and New York Times bestselling authors Kate Quinn and Madeline Martin have praised Sara’s novels as “fresh and delightful” and “brilliantly written.” Amazon chose Radar Girls as a best book of the month, and ALA Booklist gave The Codebreaker’s Secret a starred review.
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A few of her favorite things, in no particular order – hiking, homemade pizza, a good thunderstorm, stargazing, books, craft beer, snorkeling, mountain streams, and animals. In fact, animals inhabit all of her novels in some way, shape or form – dogs, cats, donkeys, sharks, a featherless chicken, endangered Hawaiian crows, horses, and even a lion. When she's not writing, you'll find her in the mountains or in the ocean, which is where most of her inspiration happens. 

HOW DID YOU GET INTO WRITING?
I have always written poetry, but one Wednesday in 2012, I sat down on my porch to write a novel. I had no idea how to write a book and no idea where it was going, but six months later I somehow managed to finish it. I told everyone, this may be the worst book ever written, but at least I wrote it! Fortunately, with a bit of constructive feedback from friends, a few key books on writing, and a couple of writers conferences (Santa Barbara Writers Conference, Mokule'ia Writers Retreat), I learned a few things.  Not only that, but I kept at it (a post-it on my doorframe says Patience & Perseverance) and here I am today, many books later, loving what I do and enthralled by the magic of writing. I am a firm believer that stories write themselves, we just help them along – and of course revise and edit. Again and again and again.  

WHERE DO YOU WRITE?
On my porch, or somewhere with a window and a pretty view. Occasionally in my bed. Always with a cat.

WHICH AUTHORS INSPIRE YOU?
Too many to name, but off the top of my head I love Charlotte McConaghy, Barbara Kingsolver, Alice Hoffman, Sue Monk Kidd, Jane Harper, and Liane Moriarty. Two of my recent favorite novels are Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.