The changing of the guard (at KBR) is an occasion of regret on one hand and reason to rejoice on another.
While we never enjoy farewelling a favourite team member, we heartily welcome those with as much passion as us to share their love of children's literature with all and sundry. Which is why, with barely contained mirth, we welcome our newest recruit, Sarah Rasmussen into our KBR family.
You may be familiar with Sarah and her fetching Ragamuffin Books Blog. But do you know her favourite word? Well now's your chance to find out and discover more. Welcome to the team, Sarah!
I used to be allergic to chocolate as a child, but through hard work and sheer dedication, I’ve managed to build up immunity to it as an adult.
2. What is your nickname?
I don’t have a specific nickname, but some people call me Sare, or Rasmuffin. My partner calls me Snook and my dad calls me Munchkin.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Heights! Particularly steps with the gaps between each step where you can see below you.
Also, I’m not fond of the sound the bathtub makes when the water goes down the drain.
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Large amounts of procrastination with small bouts of word vomit.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Honest, hard-working, shy, methodical, playful.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
It’s not a book character, but I always wanted to be Lisa Simpson when I was a kid. She is smart, funny and never has to worry about wardrobe changes. Or Hermione Granger, for similar reasons.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Some year in ancient Greece, just to have a look around. I would listen to the old philosophers and see what people were really like back then.
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Keep at it.
Also, I hope these bracers and the head-gear are worth the nice straight teeth you have in the future. I’m sorry I keep losing the plate, so your bottom row might still be a little jazzy.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Oh this is a tough one! Perhaps Marcus Zusak. Or Alison Lester, and Cath Crowley and Robin Hobb, or a million other authors whose books I’ve read and fallen in love with.
10. What/who made you start writing?
All the stories I read as a child. The magic of looking at little lines and curves on a page, and being transported somewhere else.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Petrichor. It’s the name of the smell of rain just before it starts raining after a dry patch. I read it in a book recently and it’s stuck with me. It also shows how many words there are for things you never think about.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would like to say the Harry Potter series, so I could get the most of it, but I think that would kind of cheating, as they are separate books. I have a very thick book with the works of John Steinbeck, who is one of my favourite classic authors, so that would do nicely.
Sarah Rasmussen is a passionate reader and writer of children's fiction. She lives in a small country town in South Gippsland, Victoria – with her partner and toddler. She has recently finished studying her MA in writing with a focus on children/YA literature and regularly reviews books at her blog Ragamuffin Books.
Visit her website to learn more. And keep an eye out for Sarah's first review very very soon!
