Sarah Crossan: Enjoying the freedom of writing for grown-ups 

After years of producing books for younger readers, Here Is The Beehive has allowed Crossan to explore more-adult themes

KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards Winners 2020 : Sarah Crossan

Sarah Crossan has never shied away from tackling difficult topics in her acclaimed novels for young adults, whether that is dementia in her most recent book, Toffee, or the death penalty in the novel Moonrise. Her new book, however, has been raising eyebrows for different reasons. Crossan’s first novel for adults, Here is the Beehive is the intense and intimate story of an extra-marital affair, and some loyal readers of her YA books are finding it a bit of a transition.

“I know that some people who have read and enjoyed my fiction for younger readers were surprised by it — I do use the ‘C’ word very quickly in it,” she laughs. “Someone messaged me and said they needed to remind themselves that this was my adult book, that it wasn’t going to have the same flavour as the books I have written for children.” The author and former Laureate na nÓg, who is based in Hertfordshire in England, says that writing a book for adults freed her of responsibility.