Catch Up With Veteran & Author Sarah Doran!

By Natalie Zadrima

As a military child, U.S. Army aviation veteran, and a homeschooling mother herself, Sarah Doran found a gap in children’s literature: stories that represent military families and instill a sense patriotism amongst our young ones.

 

Despite major publishers doubting her vision, Sarah has successfully brought to life stories that authentically honor the unique experiences of military families, helping children learn the importance of service and sacrifice while encouraging a deeper understanding of the military, and allegiance to the United States of America.

 

We caught up with Sarah to talk about her books, how to approach sensitive military topics with children, and ways we can better support military families across the nation: 

 

Q: What inspired you to start writing children's books specifically for military families? A: The desire to serve the military community was planted in my heart as a young girl, having grown up the daughter of an Army Airborne chaplain.  My childhood was full of hard goodbyes, times of separation from loved ones, new schools and faces, but also of adventures, excitement and trying new things. Our family and military upbringing instilled in me a deep sense of belonging, but also of giving back and serving others.  When I grew up, I served my country as an Army helicopter mechanic and crew chief from 2007-2013, but I didn't want my service to end there. In the following years, I became a mama, studied elementary education and graduated with a degree in business management.  When I finally began to connect my military experiences, my education, my passion, heart and love of writing, the idea for my first military children's story came.

Q: What do you hope children and families, both from military and non-military backgrounds, take away from your stories? 

A: Beyond my love for the military community, I have a teacher's heart.  My stories were designed to engage and entertain, but also to help readers explore ideas they may be less familiar with. With only 1% of our nation serving in the Armed Forces, children across the nation need a deeper understanding of the U.S. military, its history, and the service of the men and women who stand ready to defend our freedoms. Included in each of my books are additional educational resource pages and a STEM activity.  These  pages help extend beyond each heart warming story with critical thinking questions, journal prompts and military history to give teachers and parents tools to help instill the patriotic values of service and gratitude in the next generations.  I created these stories to provide a fun and engaging way for children to learn more about our country and the families who faithfully serve.

 

 

Q: Are there any upcoming projects you are excited about? 

A: In 2026, The Fearless and the Fallen is set for publication! In this exciting blend of traditional and modern elements, brothers Ace and Gunner set out on an outdoor museum adventure and discover the truth of the life and sacrifices of men and women who served in the U.S. military. This story has an intentional focus on veterans past and present and is sure to become a timeless treasure on every American child's bookshelf.  To learn more, visit www.authorsarahdoran.com and stay updated on the book's progress by following me on Instagram @author_sarah_doran!

Q: How do you approach sensitive topics like war and military history in a way that's educational, engaging, and appropriate for children? 

A: Having two children of my own, I recognize the challenges associated with communicating heavy topics like war, military history, deployments, terrorism, weapons, and death.  While my books are intentionally focused on the positive aspects of military family life, I do want to ensure an authentic and age-appropriate representation of U.S. military history and the Armed Forces.  With my first-hand experiences as a military child, a service member, a mother, a teacher, and a veteran, I strive to effectively and educationally communicate challenging subject matter with child-friendly vocabulary, contextually relevant information, and depth that is suitable for the age range of the children typically reading my books (ages 4-8). For example, in my debut book, The Peppered Sky, which follows a military family to the drop zone as they watch their daddy jump out of an airplane with a parachute, the educational resource pages discuss how paratroopers keep us safe, what is meant by the "cost of freedom" and exploring the emotional aspects of watching a loved one jump out of airplanes as part of their job.  My hope is that by helping little readers to educationally and emotionally connect with these stories, they will develop a deeper appreciation of the Armed Forces.

 

 

Q: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to support military families? 

A: Here are a few practical ways you can show your support to military families:

 

1) Shop on Spousely! This is a relatively new platform, similar to Etsy, where all the vendors are military or first-responders. It's a great way to directly support small businesses within the military community and say "thank you" (www.spouse-ly.com). 

 

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