Manning, Sarra

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Manning, Sarra

Personal

Addresses

Home —North London, England. Agent —c/o Author Mail, Dutton Children's, Dutton, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

Career

Writer and editor. J17 (periodical), entertainment editor; Ellegirl member of launch team and editor; What to Wear (periodical), editor.

Writings

Love Money, Red Fox (London, England), 1998.

Girl Net: A Girl's Guide to the Internet and More, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

The Big Book of Summer Sizzlers, Red Fox (London, England), 2003.

Guitar Girl, Dutton Children's Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Pretty Things, Dutton Children's Books (New York, NY), 2005.

Contributor to periodicals, including Bliss, Face, Elle, Manchester Guardian, ES, Seventeen, Detail, Heat, Shop Bitch, and More.

Sidelights

Teen-queen writer Sarra Manning began her authorial career as a child entrepreneur, writing, printing, and marketing her own newsletter. In addition to working as an editor and writer at several British teen fashion magazines, she is also the author of several novels for young-adult readers, among them Guitar Girl and Pretty Things.

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Even in her daydreams, Molly, the seventeen-year-old protagonist of Guitar Girl, never even dreamed of becoming a pop princess overnight. However, after her band the Hormones takes off, there seems to be no stopping them. Before she knows it Molly is immersed in the fast lane, dealing with the harsh reality of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, sex and drugs included. After time on the road touring England and the United States, she finally decides that her new, fast-paced lifestyle is not for her after all. She quits the band, despite threats of a lawsuit from her label.

Throughout the course of her journey, Molly deals with her comical yet overprotective ex-hippi parents; they dislike Molly's music and want to protect their daughter from making some of life's big mistakes. "Wryly funny, often sincere, and sometimes pressed into banshee-like behavior, Molly is endearing in her attempts to reach maturity, sort out what's important, and decide what needs to be left behind," stated Diane P. Tuccillo in a review of Guitar Girl for School Library Journal. A Publishers Weekly critic also enjoyed Manning's book, commenting that "materials such as magazine articles and reviews are embedded throughout, adding fun diversion as well as authenticity."