Sarah Doran: An Author Rooted in Faith and Military Life
“Where are you from?” For many, it’s a simple question. But for military kids, it’s the million-dollar one!
Sarah Doran, the daughter of an Army chaplain, grew up as a military child. Her childhood was spent weaving through duty stations: Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Monmouth in New Jersey, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, and Camp Ederle in Vicenza, Italy. For many military families, the idea of “home” isn’t fixed to a location—it’s found in the people, the transitions, and the stories built along the way.
At 21, Sarah chose to serve as well. She joined the U.S. Army as a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic, later advancing to crew chief, and deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Along the way, she met her husband—also a Blackhawk crew chief. The two married in 2010 and navigated life as a dual military couple before honorably separating from active duty in 2013.
Today, they live in Central Texas with their two sons, now 9 and 11, embracing the adventure of homeschooling while continuing a life of service in a new way—through storytelling.
Telling the Stories That Need to Be Told
With a deep understanding of the unique challenges and celebrations that come with military life, Sarah recognized a gap in children’s literature—authentic, engaging stories that truly represent military families. That’s where her books come in. “Creating stories to celebrate military families and their unique experiences has been such a rewarding endeavor”, she says. Each of Sarah’s titles is a resource, designed to connect, educate, and spark curiosity.
Titles like The Peppered Sky bring to life the thrill of Airborne drop zones, while Sleeping Giants introduces young readers to the powerful presence of helicopters, including Apaches, Blackhawks, and Chinooks.
But Sarah’s books go beyond just telling a story.
Every book includes supplemental educational pages filled with critical thinking questions, journal prompts, and a STEM activity, inviting readers to go beyond the pages and explore deeper. Sarah’s goal? To create stories that reflect the lives of military children while opening a window for civilian families to better understand and appreciate military service.
From exploring different military branches and jobs to highlighting the perspectives of veterans and active-duty members alike, Sarah’s work brings the military experience to life for young readers around the world.
A Message That Matters
For Sarah, storytelling is more than a craft—it’s a calling. “Every one of us has a story to tell,” she says. “That doesn’t mean each of us needs to be a published author, but you never know who may need to hear your story. Stories matter. Share yours.”
At the heart of her resilience and creative drive is her faith in Christ. Grounded in Scripture, Sarah finds strength and peace in God’s truth, no matter the circumstances. She reflects on 2 Corinthians 4:18:
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” NIV
Looking Ahead
Sarah has no plans to slow down. With a growing list of ideas, her upcoming projects will continue to explore the full scope of military life—from the unique viewpoints of each service branch to the everyday moments of strength, sacrifice, and growth military families experience.
Her work is a testament to the power of story, the strength of family, and the enduring impact of faith. In a world that needs more empathy, understanding, and connection, Sarah’s voice—and the voices of the military families she represents—are making a lasting difference.
To learn more about Sarah and to check out her books, use the links below:
