Sally Watson was born in Seattle, Washington and is an alumna of Reed College. She began writing fiction in 1953; while doing so she worked for Great Books and co-wrote the audio-visual reading course, Listen and Learn with Phonics. In 1964 she moved to England, where she lived for 24 years, writing meticulously researched juvenile historical fiction featuring feisty and adventurous heroines, such as Jade,, which were published by Henry Holt and Company. Her other activities included Scottish highland dance, teaching Judo, in which she earned a black belt, and Mensa International. The publishing climate for juvenile fiction eventually changed, and by the mid-1970s her books had gone out of print.

Sally eventually returned to the United States, taking up residence in Santa Rosa, California, where she became active in feral cat rescue organizations. All the while her fans were pleading for her books to be republished; eventually Image Cascade reprinted many of the novels. Sally continues to add to her English family tree series and has also published several young adult novels set in Ancient Egypt. Her most recent book is The Angry Earth, a story of the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811.

Further information about Sally can be found in Something About the Author.

English family tree series

The historical novels Sally Watson has laid in Great Britain and America are separate and complete, yet are united by a family tree. They romp across four centuries, from 1582 London to 1892 Northern California. No one gets a starring role twice, but main characters sometimes reappear in another book in a relatively minor role as grandparent, sibling, cousin, lover or even a wayward eyebrow. The predominant family trait seems to be producing and marrying strong-willed women. Though the protagonists range in age from eleven to adult, and some are specifically juvenile and others definitely adult, the characterization, vocabulary, and plotting are appropriate to all ages from...say...eleven up.

• Highland Rebel (1954)
• Mistress Malapert (1955)
• Witch of the Glens (1962)
• Lark (1962)
• The Hornet's Nest (1968)
• Jade (1969)
• Linnet (1971)
• The Outrageous Oriel (2006) (Young adult)
• Loyal and the Dragon (2008) (Young adult)
• Castle Adamant (2009) (Young adult)

Juvenile historical novels

• To Build a Land (1957)
• Poor Felicity (1961)
• Other Sandals (1966)
• The Mukhtar's Children (1968)
• Magic at Wychwood (1970)
• The Wayward Princess (2006)
• The Delicate Pioneer (2007)
• The Haunted Schoolhouse (2007)

Adult novels

• The Ivory Cat (2007)
• The Missing Queen (2008)
• The Angry Earth (2009)

To Build a Land won the Woodward Annual Award in 1959.

Witch of the Glens was on the Horn Book Magazine honor list in 1963.

The Mukhtar's Children was named as a Horn Book Magazine Fanfare Best Book of the Year in 1969.

Magic at Wychwood was recommended by Library Journal in 1970.

Linnet was a Junior Literary Guild selection in 1971.