Roger Haines and Sarah Green are two, new to the writing industry, inspiring authors who I recently had a chance to talk with after they gave a presentation at my school. Roger was  an english and media studies teacher  “for nearly thirty years”. Sarah also worked in the teaching profession, and they worked alongside each other at Tewkesbury school. Coincidentally, at the same time, they both had been pursuing writing as well as artwork. After meeting each other at Tewkesbury school, they both had ideas about possible future book creations together. However, Rogers tells me “I didn't think I would be doing writing” “I'll do the illustrations'”. Regardless, he (and Sarah) have now written several novels independently and a few in collaboration together. 

Despite their clear love for collaborating together, they both have quite different writing styles and genres they prefer. They both write for the target audience of teenagers and children, but Roger explained “I like mysteries, puzzles” “ghost stories things like that” whereas Sarah takes a more magical, fantasy “And slightly historical” approach. Although they mainly write books, rather than articles, there have been situations where they have been printed in local magazines or newspapers, but only for promotional purposes. Roger explains - “I did work experience at the local newspaper, the Gloucester Citizen” “I did a week there and it immediately told me I never wanted to be a journalist!”  

Networking is also a huge part in getting your work seen by potential publishers and readers. Roger and Sarah, being new writers, feel their networking strategies have room for expansion. However, they have been getting involved in things like social media - making regular content for viewers to enjoy, but also promoting themselves to their target audience within schools, inspiring the next generations of writers with their books presentations.