By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Some people who experience childhood trauma retreat into themselves. But not author Sara Lynne George, who has returned to her childhood community of Crestline.
“I experienced a lot of childhood trauma,” George said. “That has led me to write – I wanted to help others.”
It also affected how she has raised her two sons. “I give them more attention. I wanted to be more active in their lives.”
“She is very patient and understanding,” her son Eric noted.
George has always been involved with creative writing. In school, she was the only one in class who wanted to write an essay. She wrote a lot of poetry, a genre she is diving back into now.
After growing up in Crestline, George, like so many others, went to college down the hill and then worked down there, doing stage design in Hollywood among other things.
“When I started writing again,” she said, “I decided to move back up here once I was comfortable in that career.”
She published her first book – Don’t You Dare Text Him Back – in 2021. It is described as a “bold, empowering collection about reclaiming worth and voice.” That was followed by I’ve Never Been to France, an emotional memoir-poetry hybrid that explores identify and longing.
France, George said, is a fictionalized memoir. “It’s very gritty with realities of certain situations you might find yourself in.” As for the title, she has yet to go to France with she will. “It’s about what is to come – not limiting yourself. Having and setting goals and accomplishing them.
The New York Times called I’ve Never Been to France “a tour de force of resilience and hope.” Oprah’s Book Club added it is “a must read.”
“I woke up one morning and read an article that mentioned me and my book,” George said. “It was listed in the top four books to watch out for in 2022. It was surreal. Things took off then.”
After her first book was published, George was contacted by Blackwell, her current publisher. “They help me stay grounded,” she said. “Deadlines are a must for me.”
Once she felt settled in her writing career, George headed for home – Crestline. “I enjoyed growing up up here,” she said. “I was moving around in the Los Angeles area. It was too fast paced for raising my sons. Moving back up here was better for their education.
“You know your neighbors up here – we all look out for each other. It’s a great place to write – I get a lot done sitting outside, looking at nature, listening to the birds. That was my favorite pastime as a child – watching the birds, hearing the same whistle every morning.”
When she’s not writing, George loves to do karaoke. “When my sons started getting older, I wanted to be around people my age,” she said. “A childhood friend suggested karakok. I get to let loose – it’s so much fun!”
She has been nominated in four categories for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, which will be awarded in June 2026. “It’s such an honor,” George said. “I hope to meet a lot of other poets and writers.”
George’s books also include I MA OHW: The Bi-Polar Poet and To Be Loved: What a Tragedy. They are available on Amazon.
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