Sarah Mowday

Thank you for stopping by to read a little more about me. My name is Sarah Mowday and I am a very new self-published children's author; my first book having only just gone live on Amazon a couple of weeks ago!

I am by trade a primary teacher and have worked with children for many years in schools in Leicestershire where I am based but also around the world! I was lucky enough to travel for 5 years and lived in some amazing countries; Australia and New Zealand being the main ones- I loved my time living in these beautiful parts of the world and I loved all the adventures I had travelling the globe. Travelling was a huge dream of mine since I was a little girl and after I felt I had scratched my itchy feet -I returned home and began teaching again. I realised very quickly that working in a school was not what I wanted to do anymore. I didn't agree with the path education was taking and, having been a free spirit for so long, I became ill from the stress of doing a job that seemed to focus on ticking boxes and jumping through hoops instead of focusing on the children's creativity or wellbeing.

After a horrible time suffering with illnesses caused by stress and suffering badly with anxiety; I lost my job. It wasn't a nice time but these events in life happen for a reason; it put be back on the right path and made me see what it was I really wanted to do. So I set up my own business working as a self-employed tutor; teaching children to build their confidence in English and maths as well as teaching music and mindfulness. Mindfulness has been a recent addition to my teaching and I really love it! I have seen the benefits it can have, not only on myself through my own personal practise but it is clear how much it can positively contribute to a child's wellbeing. Mindfulness really helped me with my own anxiety and helped to reduce stress and calm my body and mind so I wanted to pass this skill on to children too. The younger they can learn these positive life skills the sooner they will feel the positive benefits on their own lives.

My first book "Bea Mindful" is the first in-what I hope will be-a series of mindfulness books for children and the catalyst for this really was my own experiences through teaching and my own personal growth. In recent years it is sad to see that so many young children also struggle with their mental health and teaching mindfulness to children in schools is now more widely accepted and I hope this book can contribute to this.

It has been a dream of mine from a young age to publish a book and it has followed me through the various chapters of my life and creeped in bit by bit nudging me quietly to remember to make it happen one day! I've always enjoyed creative writing and I've dabbled with writing different texts here and there; there are many stories I have written that have stayed put in notebooks. But last year during the craziness of lockdown I decided to take notice and actually make it a reality; so I wrote a mindfulness book about a girl who (not too dissimilar to me) isn't like all the others and wants to get to really know who she is and in discovering mindfulness she discovers herself and in turn, learns to be happy being who she is! I am very pleased with the finished product and I really enjoyed the process of creating my first book. I was really happy with the pictures which I can not take credit for myself, but the wonderful Kris Lillyman did a fantastic job with these.

I have a hope to create many more books for children. I have already written another story I would love to publish. It is again based around helping children with their mental health and wellbeing; improving self-esteem and teaching them to be their authentic selves! I am also planning on making a series of "Bea mindful" books as this was the beginning of Bea's journey and I have many more ideas for the books to follow.

Self-publishing as we know is a costly business so I am extremely grateful for any support I have and if you have purchased my book or shared my page, I am so very thankful.

Thank you for taking the time to read about me and my journey here.

I will post more updates with new and exciting plans and stories very soon!

Happy reading! x