What’s new in the Year of the Firehorse?

Written By Sarah Holding

There’s a special dynamic, creative energy during the year of the horse, but every 60 years it gets even wilder – ie when it’s a firehorse year – aka 2026! I’m taking this opportunity to generate a bunch of new projects with new people in new places and to be open to anything that comes my way.

I returned to Japan at the beginning of March and have just had my Artist visa renewed, thanks to an active first year of living and writing in Japan. I spent World Book Day at a school event in Hachioji, where the students were reflecting on a research project on Hyperaging, a topic close to the heart of my next book, Frank & whatshername, which is nearing completion.

I’ve also commissioned a lovely translator, Miyaki Araki, to translate my new children’s novel, Origami Girl, into Japanese. Her husband is an illustrator, so he will be creating some beautiful quirky line illlustrations for the book, and I am hoping that it will be launched on World Autism Day next year.

I am looking forward to hosting my first Kiseki Writing Retreat at my home in Japan, with a view to connecting writers around the world and providing inspiration and space in the miraculous peace and quiet of rural Japan. My first guest arrives from Australia on Friday!

In May I have been asked to give a talk to the Japanese members of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, which is entitled ‘A Firehorse in Japan’, and will cover my journey into being an ‘authorpreneur’. It’s online so anyone can attend!

I’ve also just joined Andy Couturier’s Online Book Completion Group. Having thoroughly enjoyed reading his amazing book, Abundance with Less, during lockdown, I was delighted to be able to participate in this supportive and energising group every Wednesday morning, and receive a wealth of ideas and support.

I’m now working on some short stories - something I haven’t written since I was in my twenties – and enjoying the process of exploring this form with another group of writers I met through the Japan Writers’ Conference in Tokyo last December.

Drop me an email if you want to know more about any of the above!

Sarah Holding

Sarah Holding is a full-time children's and YA author based in the UK and Japan.

Her fictional debut 'SeaBEAN', a best-selling time travel adventure trilogy, is regarded as a leading 'cli-fi' text, and is being taught in primary schools across the UK and around the world.

'CHAMELEON', her first YA novel published in 2020, is set during the fall of Atlantis.

Sarah's first collection of poems, 'How to Write a Poem', which was written during lockdown, came out in 2021.

Her second YA novel 'blackloop', an edgy coming-of-age sci-fi romance, came out in 2023.

Sarah's latest offering 'Road to True North', her third YA novel about an ill-fated roadtrip around Iceland, came out in September 2025.

Sarah has given over 250 author-led creative writing workshops and talks for schools, libraries, festivals and offers a range of virtual discovery sessions for schools overseas.

When she's not writing, or running her writing retreats in Japan, Sarah loves painting and drawing, travelling, cooking, singing and playing jazz.

https://www.sarah-holding.com/
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Launching The Kiseki Writing Retreat