{{Short description|Australian author and screenwriter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox writer | name = Sarah Mayberry | birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | occupation = Author, screenwriter | genre = Romance fiction | website = {{url|sarahmayberry.com}} }} '''Sarah Mayberry''' is an Australian contemporary romance author and television screenwriter. She has written several novels for Harlequin Mills and Boon, as well as scripts for the television soap opera ''Neighbours''. She was a storyliner for the New Zealand medical drama ''Shortland Street'' and co-created the teen drama series ''Karaoke High'' with Kirsty McKenzie. Mayberry and her works have been nominated for several awards, and she won the Favourite Erotic Romance accolade at the Australian Romance Readers Awards in 2015.
==Early life== Mayberry was born in Melbourne.<ref name="Latham">{{cite web|url=http://katlatham.com/2011/11/sarah-mayberry-interview-and-giveaway/|title=Sarah Mayberry interview – and giveaway!|last=Latham|first=Kat|date=21 November 2011|publisher=katlatham.com|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> She grew up in the suburb of Wantirna.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite web|url=https://peninsulaessence.com.au/peninsula-darklands/|title=Peninsula darklands|last=Thomas|first=Andrea Louise|date=November 2022|work=Peninsula Essence|access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref> Mayberry knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer and began writing stories during school.<ref name="Thomas"/> She attended Victoria College, where she met her partner Christopher Gist. They both studied a Bachelor of Arts degree in Professional Writing and Literature.<ref name="Latham"/><ref name="Thomas"/> Mayberry went on to work for the parent company of Australian hardware and garden centre chain Bunnings. She also wrote for ''The Australian Hardware Journal'' and "a consumer aimed renovation magazine" for hardware store Mitre 10.<ref name="Thomas"/>
==Writing career== Mayberry decided to write romance novels, as that it was she liked to read herself.<ref name="Brooker">{{cite web|url=https://ausromtoday.com/2014/11/21/finding-my-voice-sarah-mayberry/|title=Finding my voice: Sarah Mayberry|last=Brooker|first=Jaimee|date=21 November 2014|publisher=AusRomToday|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> She wrote some Regency romances, but they were rejected by Harlequin Mills and Boon and she decided to pursue a career in journalism.<ref name="Brooker"/> After reading Jennifer Crusie's ''Anyone But You'', Mayberry was inspired to write romance novels again and she made sure her characters were "human and like people I knew". Harlequin Mills and Boon published her first novel ''Can't Get Enough'' in 2006.<ref name="Brooker"/> Mayberry has written over 45 romance novels.<ref name="Hobday">{{cite news|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7835775/neighbours-finale-stems-talent-pipeline/?cs=12|title=Neighbours finale 'stems talent pipeline'|last=Hobday|first=Liz|date=26 July 2022|work=The Courier|access-date=28 July 2022}}</ref>
Mayberry has worked as a storyliner and scriptwriter for the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' since 1998.<ref name="Hobday"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/neighbours-scriptwriter-sarah-mayberry-on-what-goes-into-an-episode-of-the-soap/news-story/42de2a0c19f7b5c76b9b72da8e01505a|title=Neighbours scriptwriter Sarah Mayberry on what goes into an episode of the soap|last=Craw|first=Victoria|date=25 August 2015|publisher=news.com.au|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> When the series was cancelled in 2022, Mayberry had written 230 episodes of ''Neighbours''.<ref name="Hobday"/> She later returned to the script department when the serial was picked up by Amazon Freevee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/neighbours/neighbours-producer-amazon-freevee-reboot-newsupdate/|title=Neighbours producer confirms return for Amazon Freevee reboot|last=Hibbs|first=James|date=6 March 2023|work=Radio Times|access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref> Mayberry credited her time with the show with helping her to become a better romance writer. After plotting a long term romance between two characters, she realised where she had been going wrong in her own writing.<ref name="Latham"/> In 2005, Mayberry wrote three novellas based on characters from the show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/spike/capper-drops-ball/2005/09/25/1127586744395.html|title=The plot thins|last=Cubby|first=Ben|date=26 September 2005|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref>
Mayberry has also worked as a storyliner on ''Shortland Street'' and ''Home and Away''.<ref name="BarryHill"/> She co-created the 2006 New Zealand teen drama series ''Karaoke High'' with Kirsty McKenzie.<ref name="BarryHill">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10415224|title=Famous for three weeks|last=Barry Hill|first=Rebecca|date=14 December 2006|work=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> They first approached TVNZ with their idea in 2003, and the network developed the show into a three-week soap opera.<ref name="BarryHill"/> Mayberry wrote the novelization of the television drama ''The Lost Children'' for Penguin Books.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kooperman|first=Paul|title=Screenwriting: Script to Screen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EX-cMAVkm-YC&dq=Sarah+Mayberry&pg=PA108|year=2009|publisher=Insight Publications|isbn=9781921088810|page=39}}</ref> In July 2022, Mayberry confirmed that she was working on a romantic comedy series to air in the United States and a thriller series for the UK.<ref name="Hobday"/> She produced the feature film ''Line of Fire'' along with her partner Christopher Gist, who also wrote the script. The film was shot on the Mornington Peninsula and even filmed in the couple's house.<ref name="Thomas"/> In 2024, Mayberry won the Best Script for a Television Serial accolade for Episode 8867 of ''Neighbours''.<ref name="AWGIE">{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/02/awgie-awards-2024-winners.html|title=AWGIE Awards 2024: winners|last=Knox|first=David|date=16 February 2024|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=16 February 2024}}</ref>
==Bibliography== Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sarahmayberry.com/complete-list|title=Complete list|publisher=sarahmayberry.com|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fantasticfiction.com/m/sarah-mayberry/|title=Sarah Mayberry Australia|publisher=Fantastic Fiction|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
'''Harlequin Blaze novels''' *''Can't Get Enough'' (2005) *''Burning Up'' (2008) *''Below the Belt'' (2008) *''She's Got It Bad'' (2009) *''Her Secret Fling'' (2009) *''Hot Island Nights'' (2010)
'''''Neighbours'' novellas''' *''Rising Star'' (2005) *''Sisters in the City'' (2005) *''Summer Harvest'' (2005)
'''Secret Lives of Daytime Divas''' *''Take On Me'' (2007) *''All Over You'' (2007) *''Hot For Him'' (2007)
'''Harlequin Super Romance''' *''The Best Laid Plans'' (2010) *''More Than One Night'' (2012) *''Her Best Worst Mistake'' (2012) *''Within Reach'' (2012) *''The Other Side of Us'' (2013) *''Temporary'' (with Sarina Bowen) (2017)
'''Porter Family''' *''All They Need'' (2011) *''Suddenly You'' (2012)
'''Mathew Sisters''' *''Her Favorite Temptation'' (2013) *''Her Favorite Rival'' (2013)
'''Brothers Ink''' *''Satisfaction'' (2014) *''Anticipation'' (2015)
'''Montana Born''' *''Almost a Bride'' (2014) *''Make Believe Wedding'' (2014) *''Bound to the Bachelor'' (2015) *''His Christmas Gift'' (2015) *''Tanner'' (2017)
'''Carmody Brothers''' *''The Cowboy Meets His Match'' (2018) *''The Rebel and the Cowboy'' (2019) *''More Than a Cowboy'' (2020)
'''Others''' *''Cruise Control'' (2006) *''Anything For You'' (2006) *''Amorous Liaisons'' (2008) *''A Natural Father'' (2009) *''Home For the Holidays'' (2009) *''Her Best Friend'' (2010) *''The Last Goodbye'' (2011) *''One Good Reason'' (2011) *''Her Kind of Trouble'' (2014) *''Wait For Me'' (2015) *''The Cowboy Meets His Match'' (2018) *''Must Love Coffee'' (2019)
==Recognition== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- | 2008 || Romance Writers of Australia || Short Category || ''Island Heat'' || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Ruby">{{cite web|url=http://romanceaustralia.com/awards/romantic-book-of-the-year-ruby-2/|title=Ruby Past Winners (1999–2014)|publisher=Romance Writers of Australia|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> |- | rowspan="4"| 2012 || rowspan="4"| Australian Romance Readers Awards || Favourite Australian Romance Author || {{NA}} || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianromancereaders.com.au/awards/2012-2/|title=Australian Romance Readers Awards 2012|publisher=Australian Romance Readers Association|access-date=15 May 2018|date=26 May 2016}}</ref> |- | Favourite Love Scene from A Romance Published in 2012 || ''Suddenly You'' || {{Nom}} |- | rowspan="2"| Favourite Short/Category Romance || ''Her Best Worst Mistake'' || {{Nom}} |- | ''Suddenly You'' || {{Nom}} |- | 2012 || rowspan="3"| Romance Writers of Australia || rowspan="3"| Long Romance || ''The Best Laid Plans'' || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"|<ref name="Ruby"/> |- | 2013 || ''More Than One Night'' || {{Nom}} |- | 2014 || ''Her Favourite Rival'' || {{Won}} |- | rowspan="3"| 2015 || rowspan="3"| Australian Romance Readers Awards || Favourite Australian Romance Author || {{NA}} || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="ARRA15">{{cite web|url=http://australianromancereaders.com.au/awards/2015-2/|title=Australian Romance Readers Awards 2015|publisher=Australian Romance Readers Association|access-date=15 May 2018|date=22 June 2016}}</ref> |- | Favourite Erotic Romance || ''Anticipation'' || {{Won}} || style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2016/03/24/53457/australian-romance-readers-awards-2015-winners-announced/|title=Australian Romance Readers Awards 2015 winners announced|date=24 March 2016|work=Books+Publishing|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> |- | Favourite Short/Category Romance || ''Bound to the Bachelor'' || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;"| <ref name="ARRA15"/> |- | 2015 || Romance Writers of America || Contemporary Romance: Mid-Length || ''Her Kind of Trouble'' || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rwa.org/page/2015-rita-golden-heart-finalists|title=Romance Writers of America Announces 2015 Contest Finalists|publisher=Romance Writers of America|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> |- | 2017 || Australian Romance Readers Awards || Favourite Continuing Romance Series || ''American Extreme Bull Riders Tour''{{efn|shared with Barbara Dunlop, Kelly Hunter, Megan Crane, Amy Andrews, Sinclair Jayne, Jeannie Watt and Katherine Garbera.}} || {{Nom}} || style="text-align:center;"|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianromancereaders.com.au/awards/2017-2/|title=Australian Romance Readers Awards 2017|publisher=Australian Romance Readers Association|access-date=15 May 2018|date=15 March 2018}}</ref> |- | 2024 || AWGIE Awards || Best Script for a Television Serial || ''Neighbours'' Episode 8867 || {{Won}} || style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="AWGIE"/> |- |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1416318}} * [http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A125844 Sarah Mayberry] at AustLit
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mayberry, Sarah}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian women writers Category:Writers from Melbourne Category:Australian women novelists Category:Australian women television writers Category:Australian soap opera writers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Women soap opera writers Category:21st-century Australian screenwriters