Sarah Mlynowski

Sarah Mlynowski – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Sarah Mlynowski (born January 4, 1977) is a Canadian-American author of middle grade, YA, and adult fiction. Explore her life, major works (like Whatever After), her writing philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Sarah Mlynowski (born January 4, 1977) is a Canadian writer celebrated for her engaging fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult audiences. With over 50 titles in print and a signature blend of humor, heart, and sometimes magic, she has become a beloved name in contemporary kidlit and YA. Her Whatever After series, among others, has earned her wide acclaim. Her work often explores themes of friendship, identity, family, and self-discovery—making her voice especially resonant for readers navigating growing up.

In this article, we’ll trace her journey, examine her influences and approach, survey her major works, reflect on her legacy and impact, and share some of her memorable quotes and life lessons.

Early Life and Family

Sarah Mlynowski was born on January 4, 1977, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Growing up in a house with a writer as a parent likely nurtured her affinity for stories and reading from an early age. She later moved to Toronto and worked for Harlequin Enterprises Ltd., drawing on her experience in the publishing world to inform her writing career.

Mlynowski holds an honors degree in English Literature from McGill University.

She is married to Todd Swidler (since 2004), and they have two daughters, Chloe and Anabelle.

Youth and Education

At McGill, Mlynowski immersed herself in literature, sharpening her sensibilities about structure, theme, and voice. After university, she began to work in publishing (Harlequin) in Toronto, gaining insight into the business side of writing and romance romance markets.

Her early publishing job, especially in a romance house, gave her insider perspective on what it takes to create emotionally resonant stories, which she later leveraged when writing her own novels.

Her first novel, Milkrun (2001), drew partly on her experience in the romance publishing industry. Fishbowl was published, she moved to New York City to write full time.

Career and Achievements

Mlynowski’s writing career spans adult fiction, YA, and middle grade. She is notably prolific and versatile.

Adult Fiction & Early Works

• Milkrun (2001) — Her debut novel; sold in multiple countries.

• Fishbowl (2002)

• As Seen on TV (2003)

• Monkey Business (2004), Me vs. Me (2006)

• See Jane Write (2006, nonfiction, co-written)

These early works helped her establish a writing career and experiment with voice and tone.

Young Adult & Crossover Projects

She has several YA novels and series, many blending humor with real emotional stakes:

• Magic in Manhattan series:
   Bras & Broomsticks (2005), Frogs & French Kisses (2006), Spells & Sleeping Bags (2007), Parties & Potions (2008)

• How to Be Bad (2008, with E. Lockhart and Lauren Myracle)

• Gimme a Call (2010)

• Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn’t Have) (2011)

• Don’t Even Think About It (2014) and its sequel Think Twice (2016)

• I See London, I See France (2017)

These works often combine humor, romance, and adolescent dilemmas with narrative energy that keeps readers engaged.

Middle Grade & Whatever After

Perhaps her most enduring and widely known work is the Whatever After series, a middle grade fantasy series that reimagines classic fairy tales with a modern twist.

Among the books in Whatever After are: Fairest of All (2012), If the Shoe Fits (2012), Sink or Swim (2013), Dream On (2013), Bad Hair Day (2014), Cold as Ice (2014), Beauty Queen (2015), Once Upon a Frog (2015), Genie in a Bottle (2016), Sugar & Spice (2016), Abby in Wonderland (2017), Two Peas in a Pod (2018), Seeing Red (2018), Spill the Beans (2019), Abby in Oz (2020), Good as Gold (2021), Just Dance (2022), Abby in Neverland (2023), Liar, Liar (2024), Mirror Mirror (2025), and graphic novel versions.

In addition, she has co-written or contributed to middle grade and series works like the Upside-Down Magic series (with Emily Jenkins and Lauren Myracle), Legends of Greemulax (with Kimmy Schmidt), Best Wishes series (with Debbie Rigaud and Christina Soontornvat), and more.

Her books have sold in multiple countries—her website claims over 12 million books in print.

Other Contributions & Roles

• Mlynowski is a co-founder (along with Michael Buckley, Julia DeVillers, and Adele Griffin) of OMG BookFest, a festival aimed at middle grade readers.

• She is active online, maintains her personal author website, and often participates in school visits, fairs, and author events.

Historical & Cultural Context

While Sarah Mlynowski is a contemporary author rather than a historical figure, her work reflects and interacts with shifts in children’s literature, YA culture, and publishing:

• Rise of YA & MG markets
  The 2000s onward saw booming interest in YA and middle grade fiction, with crossover appeal to adult readers. Mlynowski’s entry into YA and MG places her within this wave.

• Genre blending & reimagining fairy tales
  Her Whatever After series exemplifies a trend of retelling classic tales with modern sensibilities, often adding humor, subversion, and moral ambiguity.

• Transnational authoring & digital presence
  As a Canadian author living partly in the U.S. (or with U.S. ties), she bridges national literatures. Her active web presence, engagement with readers, and festival work reflect the more interactive nature of modern authorship.

• Women in kidlit & mentorship
  As a female author succeeding across genres, she contributes to the growing presence and leadership of women in middle grade and YA publishing.

Legacy and Influence

Though still active in her career, Mlynowski’s influence is already evident in several ways:

1. Accessible, fun storytelling for younger readers
   Her work offers an entry point to imaginative, character-driven stories for readers in middle grade and early YA spaces.

2. Bridging humor and emotional depth
   She shows that fun, witty voice does not preclude tackling serious themes—friendship, regret, identity.

3. Encouraging new authors & community building
   Her involvement in events (e.g. OMG BookFest) helps create infrastructure and community for new authors and readers.

4. Longevity and adaptability
   Her ability to write across adult, YA, and MG spaces suggests a flexibility that may sustain her relevance over decades.

Personality and Talents

From interviews and quoted remarks, a picture of Mlynowski’s approach and values emerges:

• Discipline & structure

  “I always work from an outline.” “I’m up at 8:30 every morning, and I write from about 9:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. — with some breaks, of course.”

• Audience awareness & sensitivity
  She has said she feels more pressure when writing for teens, aware that they are impressionable.

• Passion for reading and connecting

  “I think that if you write what you love to read, that will be what your audience wants to read, too.” She also mentions watching teen TV, reading YA novels, and talking to teens to stay connected with her audience.

• Humor and whimsy
  Her quotes often playfully approach life’s messiness and contradictions, blending smarts with fun.

• Responsibility & respect
  She acknowledges the responsibility of writing for younger audiences, and her writing often avoids extremes of cynicism or gratuitous content.

Famous Quotes by Sarah Mlynowski

Here are a selection of well-known quotes attributed to Sarah Mlynowski:

“No one was perfect. But we all did the best we could. I guessed you had to forgive when you could, move on when you couldn’t, and love your family and friends for who they were instead of punishing them for who they weren’t.”

“I love you: You imagine hearing the words from someone not related to you, someone not your best friend, but when someone you love, someone you dream about, actually says them, it makes your body melt and your breath get caught in your chest.”

“Sometimes you don't need lightning to start a fire. Sometimes, it builds on its own.”

“You can tell a lot about a person not just by their successes, but by how they deal with their setbacks.”

“Just because a relationship ends, it doesn't mean it's not worth having.”

“I always work from an outline.”

“Liking someone doesn't make you weak.”

“When you go on vacation with people, you learn a lot about them.”

These quotes showcase her insight into relationships, growth, self-awareness, and everyday life.

Lessons from Sarah Mlynowski

From her life and works, here are a few takeaways we can draw:

1. Balance creativity with structure
   Her reliance on outlines and disciplined writing habits shows that even imaginative storytelling benefits from planning.

2. Know your audience—but don’t lose your voice
   Her sensitivity to teen readers comes through, yet she maintains authenticity rather than catering overly.

3. Courage to experiment across genres
   Moving from adult to YA to middle grade, she demonstrates that authors needn’t be pigeonholed.

4. Embrace imperfection
   Many of her characters and quotes reflect the messiness of life, the necessity of forgiveness, and the value in trying even when we fail.

5. Stay connected and curious
   Reading broadly, engaging with readers, evolving with the culture—all are part of her practice.

Conclusion

Sarah Mlynowski is a dynamic and prolific author whose work resonates across age groups. From her early novels to her widely beloved Whatever After series, she has carved a space for stories that are fun, emotionally honest, and imaginative. Her path—from publishing insider to full-time writer—underscores the blend of craft, discipline, and connection that fuels a lasting writing life.