Meet Sari Karplus

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sari Karplus. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sari below.

Sari, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Creativity is like a tiny little gnome that occupies your brain— a moody little gnome who decides what’s next and when. One of the best ways I keep my creative gnome happy and productive is by giving her regular breaks. I’m often in awe of the artists who follow The War of Art methodology of creating diligently no matter how you’re feeling. I’m of the opposite mindset, however, that you should allow yourself to work when you feel inspired and grant yourself permission to pause when you are not. Boredom and staring out the window create more creativity than staring at a blank page. Taking measured breaks helps me stave off burnout and keep the creativity alive. And then when a story comes to find me and is ready to be told, that gnome and I have more energy to tackle it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a children’s book author who also loves to make films, tell jokes, and help others with their storytelling projects. I am the owner of Tip Top Story Shop, and I’ve written four children’s books: Squirrels in Antarctica, Robotastic!, Robotastic! Jake and the Giant Beach, and Robotastic! Sleep Mode. My brand is focused on stories for bright, creative kids and their awesome families.

My books are designed not only to entertain but also to spark curiosity, creativity, and meaningful conversations between kids and their grown-ups. They feature relatable characters, whimsical adventures, and just the right touch of humor and heart. Each story offers a mix of fun and life lessons that kids love and parents appreciate.

I also offer interactive author visits, where I bring storytelling to life through engaging readings, behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process, and hands-on activities to inspire young writers and readers. I tailor my presentations to fit different age groups, creating an unforgettable experience that encourages kids to dream big and tell their own stories.
If you’re looking for an author who connects with kids on their level, fuels their imaginations, and empowers them to think creatively, I’d love to collaborate with you.

Come see me do standup comedy at the Conejo Valley Comedy Festival on February 22, 2025 on the Afternoon Comedy Showcase 3pm-5pm. Ages 18+. https://www.conejovalleycomedyfest.com/

All ages are welcome for my “storytime and book signing” at The Bookworm bookstore in Camarillo, CA on May 17, 2025.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The top skills that have contributed to my success are scrappiness, a beginner’s mindset, and graphic design skills I gained from years in the web development world. If you want to get a project out there, I highly recommend tapping into your scrappiest side. Too many talented authors go woefully unpublished because they insist on traditional publishers to discover them. I respect and understand that to no end, but the world misses out when a traditional publisher doesn’t recognize an amazing talent. Being scrappy can help you get your book on shelves because many of the tasks gatekeepers handle are things you can do yourself! And that’s where the beginner’s mindset comes in… When learning something new like doing layout for a book or setting categories for your book or learning to maneuver setting up Amazon Ads, there is so much to know! And some of these details change over time, so it’s incredibly valuable to approach a challenge with openness and a willingness to learn.

It took me some time to realize that my college experience designing newsletters and the graphics work I would do for websites years later translated seamlessly into book publishing, from design to marketing. Being comfortable with different file types, margins, creating negative space, Photoshop and Affinity products and so many other skills translated beautifully to learning book design, layout, and marketing. If these types of skills are not in your wheelhouse, have no fear, they can be learned or hired out. But being scrappy, tackling challenges with a beginner’s mindset, and a background in graphic design have been my secrets to success.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

I counted and there are at least a bajillion business and self-help books that can help you grow, so why not embrace growth? Yes, I’m definitely an advocate of being well rounded and improving on areas where you aren’t as strong. This doesn’t mean you have to own every task that comes your way. Outsource your true weaknesses or dislikes, but don’t shy away from expanding your skill set. You never know what new skill you may land and love in the process. I’ve talked a little bit about skills needed in book writing and publishing. But in filmmaking, I’ve had to expand my skill set at times as well.

When I was directing a short film called Little CEO 3, we were shy on footage to fully tell the story. We needed some shots inside a Vegas casino that we were going to be impossible to get. So I came up with a creative solution: I put together a Donkey Kong-style animation of what was missing in the story. It played amazingly well. It fit the tone of the project perfectly—unique, unexpected, and funny. Do I fancy myself an animator? Not really. Did I know animation tools well enough to muscle through? I did. But you know what? Making that animation was so unexpectedly fun, I’d happily tackle something like that again.

Now if I can just tackle turning my Robotastic! book series into an animated series, this would be the next magical project. Looks like my gnome and I have some work to do.

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