A Heartwarming Tale Of Dogs, Friendship, And Responsibility
Sarah Lipman reveals the inspirations behind her debut book Sophia Starr and a Dog to Love, blending imagination, emotional depth, and life lessons into a must-read adventure for children.
Sarah Lipman has woven a special kind of magic into the world of children’s literature with her heartwarming debut book, Sophia Starr and a Dog to Love. A devoted storyteller and a doting mother, Sarah’s life in London, alongside her family and their many four-legged houseguests over the years, has clearly been the foundation of her narrative brilliance. With warmth and authenticity, she takes young readers on a delightful journey filled with humour, mystery, and deeply emotional moments, creating a story that resonates with children and adults alike.
Drawing from her own experiences of growing up with a love for dogs, hosting beloved pets, and recalling her childhood memories, Sarah has created a protagonist, Sophia Starr, who embodies the determination, imagination, and emotional complexity of young minds. Her ability to highlight universal themes like friendship, responsibility, and perseverance within the framework of an engaging and accessible story is a testament to her skill as a writer.
As you read the interview, you’ll discover the thoughtful care Sarah has poured into every aspect of her book’s creation – from developing the unique layers of the plot to enriching the story with Lily Liu’s enchanting illustrations. Whether you’ve encountered Sophia Starr and a Dog to Love yet or not, this glimpse into Sarah’s creative journey will surely leave you inspired and eager to explore the world she has lovingly brought to life.
Sarah Lipman’s storytelling talent shines, capturing vibrant characters, heartfelt themes, and delightful insights that captivate readers of all ages.
Highlights
- How hosting dogs inspired the book’s creation.
- Importance of a strong female protagonist for young readers.
- Blending humour, mystery, and emotional moments for children’s literature.
- Drawing themes of friendship and school pressures from personal experiences.
- Collaboration with illustrator Lily Liu to bring the story to life.
- Advice for aspiring children’s authors.
What inspired you to create the character of Sophia Starr and her journey towards earning her own dog?
We’ve been hosting dogs ie. ‘dog-sitting’ as a family for approximately four years now. Each dog that has visited has been unique in their way and left their own ‘stamp’ on us. It’s been magical getting to know each dog, and often a story/or ‘moment’ happened with each of our visitors. I wanted to craft a book of dog characters that were inspired by many of these canines. Like many children, my daughters (age 8 and 6) would love to have a dog, and I think this desire, and their love of the dogs visiting, prompted me to write the book. I aimed for the story to have a strong female lead character; someone that children could easily relate to and imagine as their friend. Sophia took shape quite quickly in my mind as I thought of my girls and also remembered my own childhood. I think it’s important that children understand how big the responsibility is of getting a dog, and, ultimately, I wanted to create a book that my own children would love and that would serve as a memory to all the wonderful dogs we have had come stay.
You balance humour, mystery, and emotional moments throughout the book—how did you approach blending these elements for young readers?
I decided on the overarching theme/plot and then got to work on my outline. Next, I decided what sub-plots I wanted to weave in. I’ve always loved mystery and I was spurred on once I came up with the mysterious old lady character, as I imagined she would add an interesting and unexpected dynamic to the story. I think the blending developed over time as the story emerged and I worked with my editor’s feedback. With regard to Sophia, I knew early on what sort of personality I wanted her to have and I think a lot of the emotion throughout the book stems from her various interactions with the other characters.
The story touches on friendship tensions and school pressures. Were any of these situations influenced by real-life experiences or observations?
I certainly thought frequently of my own school education while writing the book and found myself reliving a moment or two. Memories of dynamics within certain friend groups also re-surfaced in my mind. I tried to portray the joy and security that comes with a tight-knit group of friends, and also the unease and sadness that can quickly transpire when something goes wrong.
How did your own childhood experiences with dogs shape the events and emotions in the book?
I’ve always loved dogs. I remember when I was ten years old and my tennis coach’s dog was my best friend. I’ve never forgotten her. I wanted the book to be a testament to our ‘best canine friends’ and to the sheer joy they bring. Sophia Starr wants nothing more than a dog to call her own. How she strives to get it and the emotions her endeavours stir within her – are a lot! I tried to make these moments in the book feel totally real.
The book was written and self-published within a year. What part of that process surprised you the most?
I think the main aspect that has surprised me is how much the book developed once I sat down to write it. At the start I wasn’t sure where I was going with it; the initial draft was more in a diary form.
What has been the most memorable reaction from a young reader so far?
There was a young girl at one of my recent school visits who was so enthralled with Sophia Starr. She was asking me a lot of questions about her, touching on a level of detail that really took me by surprise and I had to think deeply when responding to her. It was like Sophia Starr was real to this child – I was thrilled. I went home from that session with a grin on my face; the fact that this child was so ensconced in the character that I created was quite humbling.
The illustrations add a lot of charm to the story. How did you collaborate with Lily Liu to bring Sophia’s world to life?
I am so happy you think that, thank you. I have been so lucky to work with Lily Liu on this book. I came across her work online and could immediately see that her illustration style would be a great fit for the direction I wanted. We talked on a couple of zoom calls and I felt Lily really took the time to understand the project and what I was aiming for. When Lily’s test images came back, I was very impressed. As I briefed Lily for the sixteen spot illustrations that are in the book, I tried to convey as much detail as I could. In fact, I detailed exactly where in the book I envisioned the illustrations would sit. Lily was always very open to my ideas and input and it’s been a pleasure to work with her.
What advice would you give to other authors, especially those hoping to write and publish their first children’s book?
If you’re struggling to get going and not totally sure what you want to write about, take inspiration from everyday life. What is it that excites you? Ideas can come from the most unexpected of places. Also, find an editor who truly understands what you want your book to be. I think finding joy and taking encouragement early on in the process – on steps no matter how small – really helped me to keep going.
