Battered and bruised, Sarhn sat motionless on her couch six years ago. She closed her eyes to dwell amongst the healing of her meditation practice. 20 full contact fights with only 10 seconds break in between each fresh black belt fighter, had pounded her then late 40’s body. Not her mind or spirit, however.
This goal wasn’t about her. What fuelled her forward, were her karate students and her daughter. Proving to them that it could be done despite her age. That great things were possible for all.
Two days after achieving what she set out to do, amongst the peace of her meditative mind, she heard a voice. “Write a book”, the voice said. Her response was quick, negative, firm, and vulgar. After all, hasn’t she done enough? The voice in her mind persisted for months, until she surrendered to it’s call.
Determined to inspire healthy self-image, confidence, and self-awareness in young adults and teenagers, Sensei Sarhn channeled her experiences into writing her gripping novel, ‘Osu’.
Renowned and highly trusted in the 1990s and 2000s for her striking and distinctive flair as a professional photographer, Sarhn photographed four Australian Prime Ministers, immortalised numerous celebrities, and vividly captured a plethora of sporting legends through her lens.
After retiring her camera, Sarhn followed her passion for martial arts into founding a karate dojo, channelling her desire into making a profound and positive impact on the lives of her students. Imparting invaluable life skills such as strength of character, compassion, respect, self-awareness, focus, courage, determination, discipline, and confidence.
Her commitment to empowering the next generation is now vividly captured in her debut novel, Osu, where she continues her mission to inspire healthy self-image and resilience in young adults and teenagers.
“Those who achieve great feats, are not carved from a different stone,
nor are they superhuman.
They just know and do things differently.
All of which can be taught and learnt if one is open.”
“Great things are possible for all.”
In the dojo, Olive discovers her empowering strength. Outside, she faces her greatest challenge.
Sixteen-year-old Olive has always been an outsider and when her family uproots her from the bustling city to sleepy Buxton, she’s sure her life is over. That is, until she stumbles upon a local karate school.
The dojo becomes Olive’s sanctuary, and her natural talent catches everyone’s eye—especially Boyan, the enigmatic son of her sensei. As Olive and Boyan’s connection deepens, she realises he’s fighting battles of his own.
But just as Olive begins to find her footing, a devastating secret threatens everything she’s built. Now, she must summon every ounce of her newfound strength to fight for her place in a world that seems determined to push her out.
Osu is a gripping, empowering coming-of-age-tale of self-acceptance, resilience, and the transformative power of finding where you belong. In this unforgettable debut, Sensei Sarhn reminds us that the stories we tell ourselves can be our greatest enemy—or our most powerful ally.
2025 Wishing Shelf International Book Awards – Silver Winner in ‘Teenager’ category
Title: OSU
Author: Sensei Sarhn
Reader: Young Adults & Teenagers
Pages: 328
Publisher: EmpoweringBooks.org
Published: 21.8.24
Publishers Weekly Book Life Review of YA Novel, OSU
Publishers Weekly Book Life review
1) Age is Just a Number: Breaking stereotypes about age (young or old) and capability, and proving that it’s never too late or too early, to achieve great things.
2) Empowering the Next Generation: Sharing tips on how to inspire and mentor young adults and teenagers to build self-awareness, confidence, and a positive self-image.
3) The Journey of Writing ‘Osu’: Discussing the process of writing Sensei Sarhn’s novel, the challenges she faced, and the messages she hopes to convey through her book.
4) Overcoming Physical and Mental Challenges: Discuss the mental fortitude required to endure and excel in physically demanding activities, such as 20 full-contact karate fights.
5) The Power of Meditation: Explore how meditation has played a crucial role in Sensei Sarhn’s recovery and mental resilience (in her martial arts training and book writing), and how others can incorporate meditation into their lives.
6) Great Things are Possible For All: In the fictional world where magicians, vampires and superheros are extraordinary only, Sensei Sarhn shares the truth. That those who achieve great feats, are not carved from a different stone, nor are they superhuman. They just know and do things differently. All of which can be taught and learnt if one is open.
7) Rising Above Dyslexia and Being Grateful for It: Despite being told that she wasn’t “smart enough” by teachers at high school, Sensei Sarhn completed her photographic studies at university and excelled in her photographic career. Sarhn was only identified as being dyslexic while at university and is now the author of the internationally awarded YA novel, ‘Osu’. Sarhn is happy to discuss her journey with dyslexia.
8) Feel free to suggest additional points of interest for discussion or interview that would engage your audience and or readers.
Click here for Media Photos Dropbox folder, to download high resolution photographs of Sensei Sarhn and ‘Osu’ book cover for media purposes.
0415 748 590
PO Box 95 Buxton
NSW 2571
Australia
Contact email form click here
