Romantic comedy books
How to Create a Love Triangle
Available on Amazon.co.uk as a paperback and eBook.
Click here for the Amazon page.
Mel has never settled on a job or a man, but she has big dreams.
When she starts her new role as a postie, and has a challenging conversation with the local film star Caroline Scarlett-Hughes, Mel starts writing to one of her fans. Not knowing she's just a postal worker, Adam writes back, imagining meeting up with Caroline and her amazing assistant.
When Mel and Adam finally meet, it's going to be awkward.
Meanwhile, Mel has become very good friends with a fellow worker, Ed, adding an extra complication in her search for love.
"How to create a love triangle is a really easy read that keeps you gripped all the way through. I loved the story line and didn’t want to stop reading as I needed to find out what was happening to each of the characters. Although I was happy to reach the end and know the story was complete, its the type of book that you feel almost sad to have finished, you just want to keep reading.
A great book which is well written. I look forward to the next one! Five stars."
Emma M, Kent
"This novella is a must-read for those on train or plane journeys - a quick read to pass the time. Fast moving, and a surprising ending!"
Annie, Kent
Run or Love
Available on Amazon.co.uk as a paperback and eBook.
Click here for the Amazon page.
'Suzanna has spent her life trying really hard to be perfect, and to stay in control of her life.
But as her marriage falls apart, she meets her match in Freddie, who is looking for help to overcome PTSD and depression.
As they both struggle to learn what they truly want from life, romance begins to blossom, but it was never going to be easy.'
"I thoroughly enjoyed every page of Sarah's book...Writing about the complexities they both have, and their struggles to over come their individual difficulties is inspired. A recommended read! "
5 star Amazon review - DM
" I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the characters in this book and the journey they go on...The adventures that Suzannah and Freddie go on are really exciting and Sarah's descriptions are fantastic. I read this novel in a few days and just wanted to get back to it each time I put it down. Very much looking forward to Sarah's next instalment. Well done and thank you for a lovely story."
5 star Amazon review - lovely baubles
Writing Therapy
Available on Amazon.co.uk as a paperback and eBook.
Click here to see details on the Amazon page.
There are two areas to writing therapy. First, it's just the enjoyment that can come from being creative, or researching and writing about a topic you're passionate about. It gives us chance to focus on positive things, and gives us a bit of a boost when we're feeling low. Even just learning about creative writing can help - reading books or watching online tutorials or attending workshops can all help us feel connected with others, and it allows us to forget about any problems in our life, even if just for a few minutes.
Second, through journaling and memoir writing, it can help us deal with past or current traumas and issues in our life, and help us to find a way forward. This might be done on our own, with the support of others, or with the help of a professional (like a counsellor or CBT practitioner).
The best thing is that anyone can write - just put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and start being creative.
This book will guide you through different types of personal and therapeutic writing, as well as poetry and short stories, and even how to start novels and scripts.
Each chapter has five writing exercises to complete.
Links to local writers
I've enjoyed attending workshops from some talented writers, and you can see their recent works here. There's also a link to Tony Dalby's books - my very talented dad!
Audio Sketches, Monologues and Poems
BBC Radio Kent Upload
Radio Kent Upload is a great opportunity to get your work heard throughout the local area.
I've had the privilege of 17 of my sketches, monologues and poems being featured, and was even interviewed by Leo Ulph on the 21st October 2020, explaining how I combine writing with my work as a pet behaviourist.
Some of the sketches are available to listen to on my YouTube channel - click on the titles to hear them.
- The Dog Training Class: A stressed dog trainer tries to keep control of a busy class. (Aired: Mon 28th Sept 2020)
- The Team Building Day: A riding instructor, more used to teaching children, attempts to run a corporate team-building event. (Aired: Wed 21st Oct 2020)
- The Meditation Bootcamp: A frazzled mindfulness coach tries her best to cope with the difficulties of running classes on Zoom. (Aired: Mon 8th Feb 2021)
- Smidgen the Pigeon: A humorous poem about going your own way in life! (Aired: Wed 26th Jan 2022)
- Cat Rules: A fun feline sketch about how cats rule their owners lives. (Aired: Thurs 17th March 2022)
- One of Life's Lows: A short poem about a naughty dog with a yukky habit! (Aired: June 2022)
Audio Dramas
Burning Love
"Mercy’s deadly obsessions are born from a challenging youth, and will end in flames."
Burning Love is short story by Sarah Crockford, that has been produced as a podcast by Hawk and Cleaver, who specialize in horror, science fiction and thriller stories. Click this link to listen to Burning Love, or find out more on the Hawk and Cleaver website.
Please be aware that 'Burning Love' is not really for family listening, or for those with a nervous disposition...
Puzzle From Peru
" After receiving a mysterious parcel from her archaeologist friend, Candy is forced into leaving her safe, quiet life behind."
Now available to listen to at Hawk and Cleaver. However, as this is an exclusive story for members, you will have to sign up first (there is a cost involved). More details can be found at https://www.patreon.com/hawkandcleaver. Puzzle from Peru was uploaded on Aug 18th 2021. To listen to other (free) audio dramas on Hawk and Cleaver click here.
Short Stories
'A Surprise Delivery' by Sarah Crockford
"When Bridgit finds an abandoned cockerel at the gates of her rescue centre, she doesn't expect him to behave like a dog!"
This fun story is in the current (February) edition of the Yours Fiction Special, available on the shelf or via the publisher:
https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/yours-fiction-february-2023-edition
'One Breath or None' by Sarah Crockford
This short story was included in the anthology of the 2022 Hammond House International Literary Prize.
The theme was 'Changes', and the anthology includes winners and short-listed entries from around the world. Judges are invited to include a story - this time I'd helped to judge the short stories as well as the scripts, and felt somewhat intimidated by the standard from this years entries. But I enjoyed writing my intriguing tale of a man who has to do something drastic to protect the woman he's fallen in love with, so I decided to decided to include it.
Changes is available to purchase via the Hammond House website:
https://www.hammondhouse.org.uk/store
"Enjoy this eclectic collection of short stories, bringing together some of the best in modern writing from around the world. Thrilling, daring, funny and moving, this impressive body of award-winning work explores the theme of CHANGES."
'The Icarus Project' by Sarah Crockford
This short story was included in the anthology of the 2021 Hammond House International Literary Prize. 'Stardust' was the theme for the 2021 competition, and includes winners, runners-up and short-listed entries for the short story category. There is also an anthology available for the poetry category.
I was invited to submit a short story for inclusion as I was part of the judging panel for the scriptwriting category. It's the tale of two crewmembers on a space ship, heading to the sun for a scientific study - but their bosses are more interested in results than their safety.
Stardust is available on the Hammond House Publishing website, or at Amazon.co.uk.
'Caged' by Sarah Crockford
This short story is included in the anthology of the 2020 Hammond House International Literary Prize. 'Survival' was the theme for the 2020 competition, and includes winners, runners-up and short-listed entries for the short story category. There is also an anthology available for the poetry category.
I was invited to submit a short story for inclusion as I was part of the judging panel for the screenplay category.
Caged is the story of a woman trapped in her own home, with just her cat for company. Then one day she meets someone who encourages her to take a step outside.
Survival is available on the Hammond House Publishing website, or at Amazon.co.uk.
"From terrifying post-apocalyptic fantasies, to rousing contemporary fiction, SURVIVAL gathers some of the best in modern writing from around the world.
Thrilling, daring, funny and moving, this impressive body of award-winning work explores what it means to survive in this increasingly volatile world, telling the human stories behind the headlines: the dramas and struggles of every day life."
Short films
Welcome to Wondershire
Sarah had the privilege of being part of the writing mentor team, working with the talented youth group of the Heckington Players in 2021. All conducted on Zoom, the young actors invented new characters for a fairy-tale land, and wrote their own scripts.
It was filmed in July 2021, and is available to watch on YouTube!
The Bargain
This is a short film written by Sarah Crockford; winner of the 2018 Hammond House International Literary Prize (screenplay category). It was filmed by Hammond House in January 2020, and premiered at their Literary Festival at the University Centre Grimsby on February 5th.
The teaser trailer can be viewed on YouTube.*
The Bargain is a horror/ psychological thriller - "Life is falling apart for Kevin, and he's suddenly unable to talk his way out of trouble. With his secrets revealed, he loses everything. A mysterious woman offers him refuge, but he's soon in mortal danger, and prepared to do anything to stay alive."
*(You can click the link above. Or, if you're searching for it within YouTube, please select the one posted by Billboard TV, as there are other 'The Bargain' trailers on there!)