The Heavy Bag, a children's book that explores the feelings and journey of grief, was first published 4.5 years ago. However, due to the numerous foreign editions that have been released since then, I’m fortunate enough to have reached several milestones in its publishing journey that I can reflect on. Today, I’m celebrating the one-year anniversary of The Heavy Bag's release in the U.S. with Cardinal Rule Press.

It’s been an amazing experience—honestly, I’m not exaggerating. What’s been so amazing? Let me tell you a little story... Back in November 2020, when the world was in lockdown, I (like many others) found myself with time and a strange feeling of - now or never. 

I dusted off some manuscript ideas and decided to step into the world of children's literature.

I’d dabbled in writing for years as a freelancer and had even published an adult crime fiction book. But with four children, a job as a teacher, and work within a children's mental health charity, I always found myself connecting with children and exploring how we all see our place in the world through stories.

The Heavy Bag became a metaphor for so many. A heaviness we were all beginning to feel during COVID. I suspect many of us carried that weight for years, but it became a big, bright yellow bag during those unprecedented times.

So, there I sat, alone—a writer at her desk, not allowed to go out, unable to meet anyone. My stories were my only escape. "It all feels so heavy," one friend said, and just like that, the spark was ignited.

I wrote, had it illustrated, and self-published The Heavy Bag here in the UK. Then, without any foresight, I found myself selling it into many languages around the world, as we all adjusted to this new lockdown, shut-in, mystical world we were living in.

I worked with many publishers for the first time and learned a lot about publishing—fast. Every experience taught me something new, and I made many wonderful friends along the way. I was told repeatedly that it was a necessity to get this grief book out there.

Then one day, I met Maria Diamondy through an email. I had signed up for Cardinal Rule Press’s newsletter and, on a whim, responded with a cheeky pitch for a U.S. edition of The Heavy Bag.

The pitch worked, and suddenly I found myself having a meeting with Maria about bringing the book to the U.S.

So what was different? Well, it wasn’t just about the theme—grief, even though this was definitely something everyone was experiencing. Let me be clear, we did agree on the importance of exploring this theme with children. But for me, it was Maria's enthusiasm for the story and for me as an author. I hadn’t experienced such support for both aspects. I had become so consumed by the theme that some days I had even forgotten I had sat down and written a little story about a girl named Enid.

Enid's story could have been told outside of COVID, and I hadn’t believed that until I met Maria.

A new, wonderful edition was created, and as the author, I was consulted throughout the entire process. The onboarding experience was new for me, and I often wondered, Is this how things are in the States? Does everyone have a little cheerleading team following them around?

The springboard from its release was incredible, and I received support from so many other U.S. authors. For the first time in a long time, I felt truly connected as a writer.

So how did the first year go? Well, I met my targets, and as I remained seated at my desk on this little British isle, that felt like an achievement.

Since then, I've had five more books published globally, and three new books are coming this year. I want to make other authors feel as connected and seen as I did. It truly felt like the American Dream, and I’m so happy to see that The Heavy Bag has reached its one-year milestone with no end in sight. Enid's story is worth telling—in any context, country, or moment in young readers' lives.

Sarah Surgey is a UK-based children's author with a global readership. Her books have been featured in collaborations with NGOs such as UNICEF, Dyspraxia Ireland and Voices of Children, Ukraine. A mother of four daughters, Sarah began her career in education before pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a writer. From magazine articles to adult crime fiction, she explored various genres before discovering her true passion in children's literature.  

A dedicated advocate for children's access to books, author visits, and storytelling, Sarah frequently presents in schools, libraries, and children's literature festivals across Europe. With six children's books already published and three more launching this year, she continues to inspire young readers worldwide.