Short Bio:
Sonja Anderson writes from her home in Seattle, Washington, where she is also a wife and a mom and Vice President of the Northwest Christian Writers Association. Apart from watching the boats go by on Puget Sound, Sonja works full-time in an elementary school library, where she gets to spy on what kids read as a daily part of her job.
If You Want to Know a Bit More:
Sonja Anderson is a certified librarian and teacher with an EdM from Harvard University. She taught for three years at an international school for boys in Tokyo, Japan. She is the author of the middle-grade Adventures of Sophie Topfeather series (soon to be re-released by Brimstone Fiction, including the new third book in the series (Sophie’s Gold Rush).
She has also contributed to anthologies and magazines, such as Cup of Comfort Book of Bible Promises, Keys for Kids, Children’s Writer, Knowonder, and Young Salvationist.
One of her favorite projects was the book, Mount Rainier’s Historic Inns and Lodges that she wrote with her husband.
She currently lives in Seattle, Washington, with her wonderful husband and two amazing daughters.
Why I Write: A Statement by the Author
Like most authors, I grew up reading–a lot. I always thought it would be fun to read every book in the school library, except for one small problem: when I found a book I liked, I read that one book over and over again. My dad would notice and ask me if once wasn’t enough. Of course not! Once is never enough when you really, truly love a book. My favorites were books like Nancy Drew, Heidi, The Village that Slept, Baby Island, Mandy, and Fog Magic. They transported me to different places and times and made me long to feel brave like the characters in the stories. I still enjoy reading those books! I’ve added some new favorites, like the Harry Potter series. My husband will sometimes notice that I’m reading them again and ask me if once isn’t enough. As you and I know, once is never enough, when you really, truly love it.
Working in an elementary school library, I sometimes feel like a spy as I listen to kids talk about what books they like or think are funny. I hope that as I listen, I am learning to write books that they will like and maybe will even think are a little bit funny! It’s sometimes hard for me to believe that my lifelong dream of writing a book–several books–has come true. What’s even more special to me is that kids will check out my books from my school library for the second, third, or even eighth time! Could reading them once not be enough? Amazing!
The germination for Sophie’s Quest, my first children’s novel, began several decades ago in response to students’ questions when I taught a multi-faith religion class at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo. I’m so grateful for the ways that living abroad and writing this novel have increased my faith and my compassion for others. Jesus tells us in the Bible to love our neighbor. When I lived in Japan, and now here in a very diverse community in Seattle, I realize more than ever that we are ALL neighbors.
My sense of mission was honed as the Christian Formation Coordinator for the N. Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. I also earned a master’s degree in Education from Harvard University and studied history at North Park College. All of these experiences helped me to become a researcher who loves to learn about other people and places. My greatest desire is to grow closer to Jesus through these endeavors, and to help as many people as possible meet Jesus and come to know him as “God with us,” Emmanuel. He made us and loves us most and wants each one of us to be with him forever through his saving grace.