for
YOU
Sign up for occasional notes & doodles.

Musings on the creative process, living simply, and doing independent work you love. And dogs! No spam, ever.

Dust and Mud, a novel by Sarah Mattern

Are you a reader?

I hope you had as much fun as I did. If so, please take a moment to post a review or tell a friend. Such things greatly help independent books like this one get discovered by other readers.

Leave a review

About Sarah

Thanks for being curious about my world! I’m a designer by day, a bumbling backyard farmer on the weekends, and a lover of big-hearted stories. In a previous life, I studied environmental science and worked in environmental planning. I live in California with my husband Noel and a big dog named Pilot.

I always wanted to write a novel, and Dust and Mud is my first attempt. It touches on many of my loves and fascinations: bars in the country, trailer parks, sibling relationships, farming and soil science, the beauty of northern California, how we create meaning and purpose in our lives, and how we can come together to heal ourselves and the planet.

If you’d like to connect, I’d love to hear from you! Sign up for occasional notes and doodles above, or get in touch.

Sarah Mattern

Visual Stories

I made these messy multimedia drawings while writing Dust and Mud. I did it partly because I understand things best when I can sketch them out. And also because I’m very good at distracting myself! Maybe you recognize these people and scenes?

"We were a cloud of bubbles sinking under the desert sun."
"We were a cloud of bubbles sinking under the desert sun."
"She says you look sad and lonely, and that’s always a good kind of face to paint.”
"She says you look sad and lonely, and that’s always a good kind of face to paint.”
"I'm going to miss Anna."
"I'm going to miss Anna."
"Rosa lifts her shoulders like she doesn’t really care if I remember her or not." (In my first draft, Rosa was a man)
"Rosa lifts her shoulders like she doesn’t really care if I remember her or not." (In my first draft, Rosa was a man)
"I can almost picture Frank sitting across from me, his half-smile restless, his wiry gray beard shading his weathered face."
"I can almost picture Frank sitting across from me, his half-smile restless, his wiry gray beard shading his weathered face."
"I saw the way he moved, the way he walked. He never recovered. How can I be here, knowing that?"
"I saw the way he moved, the way he walked. He never recovered. How can I be here, knowing that?"
"Kyle was still there in front of me, clear and steady. Everything else was lost in motion."
"Kyle was still there in front of me, clear and steady. Everything else was lost in motion."
"Carlie talks on about this place and the people here, but I’m having a hard time paying attention."
"Carlie talks on about this place and the people here, but I’m having a hard time paying attention."
"I stare at the table in front of me, at the beer bottles glowing with captured sunlight. A single cookie remains pressed on the paper plate, its candy coatings blurring together."
"I stare at the table in front of me, at the beer bottles glowing with captured sunlight. A single cookie remains pressed on the paper plate, its candy coatings blurring together."
"I pat the cigarettes in my shirt pocket wishing for the millionth time we could smoke down here, it would make this whole recovery thing a hell of a lot easier."
"I pat the cigarettes in my shirt pocket wishing for the millionth time we could smoke down here, it would make this whole recovery thing a hell of a lot easier."
"Kyle’s voice emerged from the quiet. 'See the light.'"
"Kyle’s voice emerged from the quiet. 'See the light.'"

Sign up for occasional notes & doodles.

Instagram Linkedin-in
© 2024 Sarah Mattern
Privacy Policy
This site uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Ok!
Privacy Policy