Sara Triana creates poetry, picture books, and embroidery in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Photo by Kali Mikelle Photography
About
Artist. Poet. Mother.
I make stuff and go on adventures with my little crew. I write poetry and picture books because they’re short and because I just like it.
Between brewing morning coffee and steeping sleepy tea, I write poetry and stories. In recent years, I have moved into intuitive embroidery. It is the most fun. I am the mother of three children. My partner’s name is Mitch Mitchell. We live a simple, creative life in East Texas.
My first full-length collection of poems, Spread Thick, was published by Finishing Line Press in September 2022. Before that, I self-published a chapbook of poems called Poppy Seeds in April 2020. Selections of Poppy Seeds have been recorded in an album on Spotify.
I’m an independent children’s book author, which means that I fund my own books and am not currently represented by an agent. I have run two successful Kickstarter campaigns and I have published through two excellent hybrid publishers.
My first book for children, Love Love Bakery: A Wild Home for All, was published on July 1, 2018 in partnership with Lucid Books.
My second picture book, Every Day is Making Day, was released on December 31, 2019 by Beaver’s Pond Press.
I am a picture book enthusiast and I see it as my responsibility to amplify diverse voices. I want to write a mountain of books that children remember forever.
Artwork and design by H2 Alaska and Sarah Dossey
Experience
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, emphasis Children’s Literature, Penn State University, 2013
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, English minor, Dallas Baptist University, 2009
While earning my graduate degree, I began writing a YA novel and got hooked on writing for children and teenagers.
I love to work as a developmental editor for children’s books. I help authors tell captivating, honest stories that children enjoy and respect.
Books
Spread Thick
Spread Thick is a collection of poems written in the first year of the pandemic. Cover art by Houston-based artist Rachel Gonzales.
Every Day Is Making Day
Today is the day to make THE THING! An invitation, a call out, an anthem to just MAKE THE THING. It is never too late and never too early to make the thing you were born to make. Brought to life thanks to 209 Kickstarter backers.
Love Love Bakery: A Wild Home for All
Bakers Jane and John prepare sourdough and pies at their bakery and coffee shop. Before leaving for school, Jane’s son Leo urges his mom to “not let things go nuts.” But as neighbors pile into the shop, it only takes one sneeze to set off an avalanche of mess and mayhem. Inspired by coffee shop culture and bakery communities everywhere.
Poppy Seeds
All but one of the poems originated in Sara’s 100 Day project in Winter 2018/2019. Themes include friendship, parenthood, grief, and the female body. Each copy was bound by hand. Selections were recorded as a spoken-word album with the band SOOTH.
Read My Work
- “Life Cycle of a Pine” (poem)The Weight of Motherhood, Moonstone Arts Center, 2023 — link
- “in knots: poetry in word and thread” (solo show)Lanecia Rouse Tinsley Gallery, Dec 2022–Jan 2023 — photos
- Spread ThickFinishing Line Press, Sept 2022 — link
- Poppy Seeds spoken-word album with band SOOTHJuly 2022 — Spotify
- “Disruption/Non-Violent Communication” (lyric essay)Wordpeace 6.2, Summer/Fall 2021 — link
- “To Raise Children Today is to Engage in Magical Thinking” (poem)Wondrous World: Poems that Spark Magic, Other Worldly Women Press, July 2021 — link
- “Spread Thick,” “On the Afternoon of November 6,” “As in, Deactivate” (poems)BEATIFIC Magazine, Winter 2021 — Amazon
- “The Waco Plant,” “If Poems Are Flowers,” “The Day You Only Survived” (poems)The True, The Good, The Beautiful, 2021 — Amazon
- “All This Time Her Bones” (poem)The Waking, Feb 16, 2021 — link
- “I’d eat a sleeve of saltines with you” (poem)Gold Wake Live — link
In the Press
- “The call to create: Local children’s author writes ‘Every Day is Making Day.’”Woodlands Online
- New kids book based on Texas bakeryMy San Antonio
- Former resident holds children’s book signingRoswell Daily Record
- Children’s book captures a day in the life of a real Texas bakeryBake Mag
- Woodlands child’s author sends messageHouston Chronicle
- Bringing characters to lifeCleburne Times Review
- Meet Sara Triana MitchellVoyage Houston
Connect
It’s always great to make a friend. Or meet a collaborator.
Let’s connect.