Hi friends. Welcome to my January newsletter.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing break over the festive season, whether it was a long-awaited catchup with family and friends, or something a little more low-key. I will admit that I had trouble completely switching off my work brain, and only managed about three or four days away from my computer before I found myself drawn back into planning mode for the year ahead. Anyway, here's what's happening around here during the first month of 2022. Happy New Year to you all!

Christmas was pretty relaxed in the Epstein household, which was exactly what I needed after a hectic December. We stuck around home and enjoyed some family time, with my in-laws joining us for lunch on Christmas Day. Santa brought me a lovely little stack of books (see pic below, including one that was a gift from my in-laws). I'm dying to get into them all once I finish the other two books I currently have on the go. It seemed like Christmas was all over in the blink of an eye. I took the tree and decorations down last weekend, and the house looks a little bare and boring now. Done and dusted for another year.

These are some of the awesome photos that readers took when they received their copies of SUGARCOATED. I'm so grateful to everybody who has purchased a paperback or ebook, and also to the lovely readers who have taken the time to read and leave a star rating or review. You've probably already gathered that authors loooove it when readers leave a star rating or review. It really helps us and our books gain traction and find new readers!

Click the buttons below if you'd like to add SUGARCOATED to your Goodreads TBR or purchase your very own copy!

This month I'm teaming up with fellow Aussie authors Poppy Nwosu, Kat Colmer and Katie Montinaro to tell you about our contemporary YA novels, all set in Australia over summer, with themes of family, friendship and romance. You'll see some graphics like the one above popping up on our socials, and here's where you can find out more about the authors and their books:

Road Tripping with Pearl Nash by Poppy Nwosu

Remind Me Why I'm Here by Kat Colmer

The Girl in the Sunflower Dress by Katie Montinaro

Sugarcoated by Sarah Epstein

These are perfect reads for the summer holidays, and you can order the ebook versions and have them on your device instantly.

Keep watching our social pages over the next few weeks as we have fun answering questions about our books.

Wakefield Press and The Chestnut Tree Bookshop in West Footscray have organised a belated launch event for HOMETOWN HAUNTS: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales here in Melbourne. This event has now been moved online due to the current impacts of Covid-19.

Join contributors Alison Evans, Emma Osborne, and little ol' me on Tuesday 18 January 2022 at 6:30pm AEDT doing readings from the book and a Q&A about writing horror for teens. The event is free, but you need to book here at Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link.

You can read more about the anthology and find links to purchase on my website here.

The French edition of DEEP WATER is now out in the world (official release day is 19 January 2022 with Bayard). Very much hoping French readers enjoy this Australian crime/mystery novel! 

You can find out more on the publisher's website here.

I don't know about you, but I rarely make New Year's resolutions because I don't need something else to beat myself up about if I don't stick to them. Instead I like to create a loose wishlist of things I'd like achieve in the year ahead. I won't give you a grocery list here of what all of those things are, but a few that I'd like to happen in the first half of the year are:

- Join TikTok

- Release a US edition of SMALL SPACES

- Illustrate some SMALL SPACES and SUGARCOATED book merch

- Finish writing LEFTOVERS Book 2

- Finish writing my new YA psychological thriller

As to when these things are actually completed and available is another story! But I will certainly keep you posted.

Do you have anything you'd like to have a crack at this year? Any grand plans? Or are you just hoping to make it through the next few months unscathed with your sanity intact? I hear ya.

If you haven't already done so, you can grab your free ebook of my novella PIECE OF CAKE by clicking the button below.

Your ebook file will be downloaded via BookFunnel, and it’s simple to get the story onto whichever device you prefer. If you get stuck, just click the Need Help? button at the top of the download page.

If you've already read and enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review here on Goodreads. Reviews really help authors, and we appreciate them so much.

Not to worry! You can catch up on any of my recent newsletters by clicking the links below:

Sarah's Studio - December 2021 newsletter

That's all for this edition, friends!

I hope the beginning of 2022 is treating you kindly, and you're managing to stay safe, well, and happy.

Until next time,
Sarah