Former Primary School Teacher and mother of three boys, Sandra Bennett is an International Award Winning children’s Author. She writes children's stories to engage and delight readers 3-12 years and is an Australia Reads Ambassador.
Imagination inspires innovation.
The more children read, the more they develop their imagination, which enhances creativity and leads to greater future innovation.
Do you like to read? Sandra does. Some of her favourite books to read growing up were:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Trixie Beldon Mysteries by Kathryn Kenny and others
Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys all by various authors
Famous Five, Secret Seven by Enid Blyton
As a mum, Sandra enjoyed reading with her sons. Below in no particular order are just a few of a huge collection:
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda
Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (of course, who doesn't?)
Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
As a teacher, some of the classic stories Sandra enjoyed reading with her classes were:
The Witches by Roald Dahl (or anything by Roald Dahl)
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
As Sandra loves to read great mysteries or adventures, it seemed only natural that her passion for writing would one day lead her to writing adventure mysteries too. Einstein is quoted as saying 'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.' Through her stories Sandra hopes to build on children's imagination to help take them on their journey to the future, wherever it may lead. With literacy and a little imagination, the possibilities are limitless.
Her desire to write continued to grow throughout her teaching career until one day when she decided it was time to leave the classroom and focus on writing full-time. Through her writing, Sandra hopes to help parents and teachers improve literacy in our children. She appreciates the struggle of teaching reading to reluctant readers and understands the importance of hooking children with reading from an early age. Sandra is devoted to writing stories that engage and entice readers with excitement, adventure, a bit of mystery and a whole lot of fun.
These days she enjoys invitations for classroom visits to read from her stories, discuss the writing process or run writing workshops. The rest of her days are spent dreaming up characters and plots for new stories while taking her dog for walks in the country around the area where she lives just outside of Canberra.
Sandra’s chapter book ‘Secrets Hidden Below’ was long listed in the Sisters in Crime 2019 Children’s Category, Davitt Awards and Shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards 2019
Released in 2019
‘A Lighthouse in Time’ The Adamson Adventures Book 2, August 2019 Elephant Tree Publishing
‘The Dead Centre of Town.’ October 2019 Share Your Story Spooktacular Stories: Thrilling Tales for Brave Kids
‘The Thumping’ and ‘Save it for a Rainy Day.’ Creative Kids Tales Story Collection Volume 2.
Upcoming releases in 2020 :-
Cyclone Kayla written for Library For All
Cyclone Kayla. A Graphic novel, written for Library For All
‘Cyclone Kayla.’ A graphic novel Library For All. Cyclone Kayla is part of a natural disaster series written as educational readers suitable for middle primary, specifically for Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific island region. It is a part of Library For All's free digital library in partnership with ChildFund Australia. The series incorporates fun fact and fiction to not only educate but entertain and help improve literacy throughout the region. I am so proud to be a part of this amazing project.
‘Fossil Frenzy’ The Adamson Adventures Book 3. - Shortlisted Queensland Writer’s Centre ‘Adaptable’ Competition 2019/20. The work was pitched to producers and screenwriters as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival 2020. Due to Covid-19 the festival was cancelled, however the pitches went ahead via Zoom.
