The 13-year-old daughter of murdered Irishman Jason Corbett has released a book to help children cope with losing a parent.
Sarah Corbett Lynch, from Limerick, tragically lost both her parents at a young age. In 2006, when Sarah was just a few weeks old, her 31-year-old mother, Margaret 'Mags' Fitzpatrick, died from a severe asthma attack.
Then in August 2015, Sarah’s father Jason was murdered in North Carolina by her stepmother, Molly Martens, while she and her older brother, Jack, were asleep upstairs.
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Marten, who had previously been the children’s nanny, was convicted of second degree murder along with her father, Tom, and both are now serving 20-25 year prison sentences.
For the past four years, Sarah and her brother have been in the care of Jason’s sister, Tracey, and her husband, Dave, in Limerick.
Jason Corbett was murdered by his wife in North Carolina in 2015.
Sarah has channeled her grief into a children’s book saga, called “The Boogawooga Series,” which aims to help children face challenges in their lives.
The title "Boogawooga" comes from a story her late father used to tell Sarah and her brother Jack as children.
"I began writing because I found it helped me," Sarah told the Irish Independent.
"I was just eight when I lost my Dad. He was incredible and the most important person in our lives. My brother Jack and I have had a lot going on in our lives - we moved to the US only to move back to Ireland again.
"We changed schools, moved away from our friends, made new friends and settled into a new life with my aunt and uncle in Limerick," she said.
"I wanted to write about my experiences because I thought they might help someone else. I realized that I wasn't the only person in life trying to deal with grief, loss and the worry about new things and fitting in at new places.
"I was also inspired by Tracey because she wrote a book called 'My Brother Jason' about the campaign to get justice for my Dad and it became a best-seller."
Wow!!! @RTELateLateShow #latelatetoyshow2019 @sarahcorbettly1 @limerickcitybiz @ilovelimerick @danner12 #Boogawooga @sarah_liddy @Maher48Hours ? pic.twitter.com/TTz6yWfo6C
— Tracey Corbett Lynch (@Lynchtr5) November 30, 2019
"My brother and I had fantastic support here in Limerick. We are now living in our favorite place on the entire planet. I love singing and dancing and horse-riding - and my brother Jack loves sport, especially rugby."
Sarah's first book in the series, entitled “Noodle Loses Dad,” will be released on December 2.
Her character Noodle faces the loss of a loved one, has to move and become part of a blended family, and must learn to find hope and happiness again.
A portion of the proceeds of "Noodle Loses Dad" will go to the Limerick Grief Project.
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"I hope it helps other people and especially youngsters," she said.
"I wrote it based on some of my experiences. But I hope it helps other people to maybe process a bit of their story and their lives, especially during tough times.
"I think the most important message I wanted to get across is that when you have problems in life you are not alone."
A book launch party will be held at O’Mahony’s Booksellers in Limerick on Monday, December 2 at 6:30 pm.
More information on Sarah’s book can be found at sarahcorbettlynch.com.
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