As 2024 comes to a close, we have an opportunity to look at the Royal Family's non-diplomatic activities at a deeper level. One of the more creative members of the Royal Family, Sarah Ferguson, has been quite busy throughout the year. In August, she attended a book event in Rhode Island to help promote her historical romance novel, A Most Intriguing Lady. While the novel was a best seller that helped push Ferguson into the mainstream, it was not her first professionally published work. In actuality, Sarah has reportedly written more than 77 books and says she has more in the tank!
Sarah, the children's author
Before her time writing historical novels, Sarah Ferguson was a prolific author of children's books and media franchises like Budgie The Helicopter. According to The Telegraph, Ferguson wrote the first set of Budgie The Helicopter books while she dealt with financial troubles in the 1990s. The books were so successful that the children's series was adapted into a cartoon spin off and fairground rides for Ferguson's young audience to enjoy in person. Budgie was not the Duchess' only success in the genre, however, as she published an array of books geared towards children after Budgie's initial run.
In October, the Duchess of York announced she would publish Flora and Fern: Wonder in the Woods, a children's book that teaches lessons about sustainability and caring for the environment. In an interview published by The Independent, Ferguson described the book as "children imagining joy in nature" and a piece that promotes community, sustainability, and all the values she held dear while while raising her daughters.
In a different interview, Sarah Ferguson said that she writes so many children's books so she can leave a personal library behind for her grandchildren. According to Bang Showbiz, the author frequently gains inspiration from her grandchildren and tests out new stories on them! Their feedback keeps her on the right track creatively and ensures she does not fall out of touch while communicating with younger audiences.
Sarah's rise as a best selling and frequently reviewed novelist
While the Duchess of York will never retire from creating new stories for children, Sarah's recent work shows that her writing connects with older and more experienced readers as well. A Most Intriguing Lady drew reviews from various outlets because of its length, subject matter, and deep research into the life of aristocrats in Victorian London. The best seller helped the royal begin to really establish herself as a working novelist in her 60s and explore a new side of the publishing industry she's contributed to for so long.
Before A Most Intriguing Lady, Ferguson debuted as a novelist with 2021's Her Heart for a Compass. Some critics were disappointed by the historical novel's lack of racy scenes within its 550 pages of text. However, the success of her debut and A Most Intriguing Lady placed the Duchess of York in position to have her works adapted into TV shows. According to Express, Sarah spoke with multiple production companies that expressed interest in reformatting her stories for different audiences. Ferguson was excited about the ideas, as she already had a list of actors in mind for key roles!
What's next for the Duchess of York?
The Duchess of York has gushed about the possibilities her new career as a novelist offers. At the same time, Ferguson remains committed to writing books for young readers who want to learn more about life, relationships, and protecting the environment.
Fans of Sarah's work already have a large bibliography to get through before they catch up to her latest works. However, the possibility of having her works adapted to the small screen could introduce the author to a new wave of fans who admire her work.
In a negative review of Her Heart for a Compass, Rosita Boland admitted that she was unfamiliar with Ferguson's large body of work as a writer. This moment was an example of how fresh Ferguson's debut as a novelist was after all these years. Since audiences have not grown tired of her writing, there is no reason why the Duchess of York has to slow down.
In 2022, Ferguson and Serenity Press, an Australian publisher, announced that Sarah signed a 22 book deal to release young adult books with the company. While the most prolific of writers could knock that out in a few years or so, the Duchess of York has other philanthropic and social duties that force her to step away from her desk for days at a time. This means her and Serenity Press could be in business with one another for the foreseeable future.
For super fans of Ferguson's work, that could be the best news of the holiday season.