Saundra’s journey to becoming a children’s book author started not with a childhood ambition of storytelling but with the stillness and disorientation that followed a devastating loss. A man who had been her continual friend and biggest supporter, she bid farewell to her spouse of 43 years in 2018. During her attempt to get back on her feet, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, taking one of her best friends and ending her job as a part-time counselor at a middle school, which she loved.
She remembers, “I was just coping with loss after loss.” “Then the pandemic made me lose the little job I loved.” Suddenly, I was totally alone with this painful quiet in my existence.
At 71, Saundra found herself looking at a blank slate, one that seemed more daunting than hopeful. Yet inside that emotional calm, something started to move. “I believe it was the quiet that let something fresh to develop. Writing just occurred to me. That was a surprise. Her move toward authorship was not only surprising for someone who had never written creatively before, it was life-changing.
To avoid becoming numb, Saundra turned inward and considered the pain, the changes, and what it meant to start over. Her knowledge of psychology and therapy provided her with the vocabulary of resilience, and her life gave her the reason to use it. She claims, “I found strength I didn’t know was there.” That power also gave rise to a new voice.
That voice quickly became Sadie Goose, a fictional character who would launch Saundra’s late-life literary career and assist others, young and old, in navigating change with humor, heart, and optimism.
Meet Sadie Goose: A Story with Heart and Humor
Sadie Goose is a whole personality, not only a character. Her flare, ideas, and tenacity are comically out of sync with the modest farmyard life surrounding her. “She wants to be fancy,” Saundra says with a knowing smile, as if Sadie’s ghost still hangs in the room. “That was the first thing I pictured—this goose who doesn’t quite fit in but is completely fine with that.”
That flash of creativity soon became a character seeking to be written. Sadie was audacious, proud, somewhat boisterous, and very lovely. didn’t so much render her as she followed her. She claims, “It was almost like Sadie was telling me what to write.” “She had this voice, this rhythm, and this very clear idea of how she wanted the story to go.”
What about that voice? Equal parts humor and assurance. Whether Sadie is dressing up in impromptu high fashion or questioning the existing quo at the barn, she marches forward (waddles, really) with wit and crazy drive. Saundra chuckles, “She just believes she is meant for more.” To be honest, she most likely is.
The narrative unfolds with playful appeal, drawing readers into Sadie’s universe—where dreams aren’t too large, and neither are feather boas. Sadie Goose shines from this mix of sincerity and comedy. One driven little goose has mischief, glitter, and a ton of personality crammed inside.
Not only did Saundra write a story, she also created a world where being extra is not only okay, but even praised. In Sadie’s universe, normal is just not an option.
The Leap into Authorship and the Lessons Along the Road
Writing Sadie Goose was more of an impulsive leap for Saundra than a deliberate choice fitting a well-thought-out strategy. She remembers, “It really started as a creative impulse.” “At first, I wasn’t considering publishing. I was just following this concept when Sadie unexpectedly appeared.
Though amusing, that first creative impulse called for great dedication. As a novice yet a talented writer, what Saundra had to do was just adjust her writing perspective to match the quick, lively tempo of a children’s picture book. “The change was undoubtedly difficult,” she concedes. Every word counts. It takes a lot of character, comedy, and emotion to convey in just a handful of lines.
Beyond the page, there was a whole new world to explore—working with artists, grasping the subtleties of timing, rhythm, and how the images could enhance the text.
Saundra, however, speaks most passionately on the emotional path of entering unknown creative area despite all the technical learning curves. Writing this book brought me back to my passion of narrative, she explains. “It brought me back to the delight of experimenting with language, of seeing the world through the eyes of a bold little goose who simply wants to be her genuine self.
Leaping into a new genre has started to help her uncover her writing voice—one that she’s still exploring but hopes will continue to celebrate whimsy, bravery, and heart. With Sadie Goose, Saundra is learning that beginning something fresh can sometimes open the door to unexpected magic.
Stories That Heal, Across Generations
For Saundra, narrative has always been about connection, catharsis, and the delicate craft of healing, not only about fun. Sadie Goose carries those emotional strands forward in a lighter, more whimsical way. But don’t be misled; under those feathers is a gentle and fun-loving heart.
Saundra claims, “Writing has always helped me process the most personal parts of life.” „Stories help us describe feelings that are hard to put into words, whether they are about loss, change, or starting over.
Though Sadie Goose emphasizes happiness and humor, Saundra thinks its undercurrent—about discovering your voice and respecting your individuality—resonates much beyond the page. “There is a part of Sadie’s path that reflects my own,” she says. “She is discovering who she is, which is something we all do at all ages.”
“No matter what age, I think we all want the same thing when we read stories: to feel understood,” she says. With Sadie Goose, she has written a novel that provides exactly that: a soft call to accept ourselves, flaws and all, and perhaps, just maybe, soar toward something more courageous.
What’s Next: Unwritten Chapters and Unfinished Magic
Saundra doesn’t like to make herself sit still for long. Already beating its wings into readers’ hearts, Sadie Goose is silently dreaming of what follows. “Ideas are always swirling,” she replies excitedly. “I have learned to listen; characters whisper to me sometimes loudly.”
She doesn’t say much about the details, but she hints that new stories are already being planned, including possible sequels and whole new narratives. Her dedication to purposeful writing, however, seems unchanging. “Whether it’s fiction for adults or stories for children, I’m drawn to characters who are figuring things out—people or animals in transition, learning to trust themselves,” she adds.
She also admits the erratic road of creation, where some concepts take years to develop and others come completely formed. She claims, “That’s the magic of it.” “You never really know where the tale will lead you, but you must be brave enough to follow.”
Perhaps what gives Saundra’s work such quietly strong impact is her faith in the process, her conviction in the healing power of language, and her commitment to writing stories that make readers somewhat more seen, somehow more optimistic.
Saundra continues to be a storyteller in motion, exploring and changing as she looks ahead. “More is coming,” she vows. “The next chapter is already beckoning.”
And for her audience, that is a promise well worth waiting for.
About the Author
Saundra Amos Crum is a retired school counselor, mother, wife, and grandmother to three lively young boys. Her professional background in education, combined with her personal experiences as a parent and grandparent, inspires her writing. Influenced by her mother—a devoted school librarian—Saundra developed a deep appreciation for books and storytelling early in life. Though she began writing later in life, she sees it as a lifelong passion finally brought to light. Now with time and inspiration from her grandchildren, she is focused on creating meaningful stories that help children express emotions and build resilience.
