Sarah Corbett Lynch An Post Irish Book Awards. Source – An Post Irish Book Awards Social Media

Sarah Corbett Lynch was just eight years old when her father Jason Corbett was killed by her stepmother in their home in North Carolina. 

The murder of Jason Corbett and the subsequent trials faced major media coverage both in Ireland and the United States. In 2025 Netflix released the documentary ‘A Deadly American Marriage’, which explored Corbett’s tragic death and the circumstances surrounding it. Jason Corbett’s wife Molly Martens and her father Tom Martens were initially convicted of second-degree murder in November 2017; however, their convictions were squashed upon appeal in 2020. A plea bargain for voluntary manslaughter saw the Martens spend minimal time in prison, and meant that Jack and Sarah, Jason’s bereaved children, were left without a chance to say their piece.  

In the wake of Corbett’s death, the Martens made attempts to tarnish his memory, portraying him as an angry and violent man and claiming that he had instigated a fight on the night of his death. In 2025, Sarah Corbett Lynch, Jason’s daughter released her memoir ‘A Time for Truth’. This book recalls both the lead up and the aftermath of Jason’s death. Looking at when her family moved from Limerick to America, to Jason’s eventual murder. The blurb of the book describes ‘The use of manipulation and gaslighting by Molly Martens – the only mother she had ever known’.  

I was lucky enough to get to talk to Corbett Lynch about her recent win at the Irish Book Awards, what life has been like since the release of her memoir, and what is next for her.  

Firstly, it was only right to congratulate Corbett Lynch on bringing home the ‘Dubray Biography of the Year’ trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards. Beating out the likes of broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan and former Taoiseach Leo Veradkar, was this achievement a big deal to Corbett Lynch? “Absolutely. I found out that I got shortlisted about a month before the awards. So even being shortlisted was an absolute honour and I didn’t expect it.” 

As for the awards themselves, an evening which saw Michael D Higgins receive the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award, Corbett Lynch found the event a warm experience. “It was very overwhelming being in a room with such influential people and I got to meet a lot of them, and everybody was so kind. There was definitely a big sense of camaraderie in the room, which was really nice. Everyone was really there for each other and excited for each other. And then actually winning the award was unbelievable and I really didn’t expect it.” 

Since the book’s release earlier this year, Corbett Lynch has been on The Late Late Show, Ireland AM, This Morning, and countless other media outlets. How was the press tour experience for her? I wondered if given that the book she was promoting was written about such a tragedy, must there be a sense of bittersweetness? “I quite enjoyed the press tour. I definitely like to talk. So, it was really exciting in some ways as well. I got to meet amazing people that I wouldn’t have got to meet otherwise. And definitely some interviews were harder than others, but like I said, most people, especially in the publishing industry, are just really kind. But it gave me a voice to speak about issues that I wanted to talk about.” 

Early in our conversation I remark at the shame she has put me to, being wiser beyond either of our years. An award-winning author of not one but two books, doing advocacy work for people who have faced similar situations, qualifying as a swim coach, lifeguard and commercial diver, all by the ripe young age of nineteen. Was Corbett Lynch always a ‘go getter’ or was this something that came with time and situations? “I definitely think that probably came from a lot of the trauma when I was younger. You don’t have years and years to do things, you might as well just do it now. And I’ve had a lot of great opportunities, just from the lifeguarding alone, it sent me into a load of different things like teaching, swimming and diving. So, I was extremely lucky in that way. But it’s with the help of a lot of other people as well. So, I definitely haven’t gotten to where I am without the help of lots of people.” 

In our ‘Irishness’ it can still be hard to praise ourselves. Is Corbett Lynch proud of herself and her achievements? “I definitely feel like I’ve given my eight-year-old self a voice, and that was kind of what I wanted to do. And hoping that through sharing my experiences, it might help somebody else. And I’ve enjoyed the experience of publishing the book. And I definitely do have a sense of pride in the book.” 

A recurring theme in Corbett Lynch’s answers is her interest in people and relationships, and the potential to help others by sharing her story. One connection in particular stood out in her memory. “(There was) A woman, she had just had her first baby and her husband passed away. And she bought ‘Noodle Loses Dad’(Corbett Lynch’s children’s book, written to help young people deal with grief). And she read the story to her son as he grew up. And when I published A Time for Truth, she sent me a lovely message saying that he loves Noodle Loses Dad, the book, and she’s reading my book now, which was really nice to see that it’s actually helped somebody in some way and to connect with other people.” 

With two books under her belt before reaching her twenties or finishing her degree (she is currently studying English and Drama in order to teach), can we expect any more publications from Corbett Lynch? “Me and my mom are exploring writing books together at the moment, so we’re kind of putting ideas together”. The mom who Corbett Lynch refers to is Tracey Corbett Lynch, sister of Jason Corbett. Tracey and her family took in Sarah and her brother Jack following Jason Corbett’s death and she is a constant presence in the book. It is clear from reading and from Sarah Corbett Lynch’s social media that the family she has now and the bond she has with her mom is something important to her. “I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without my mom. You know, I said it in my acceptance speech for the award that my mom started doing a word a day for me. It helped me be able to write and read and understand things that I wouldn’t have and on top of that, even just having the support of my mom being there. I won’t go into the interviews without my mom being there. As well as it’s handy for her to drive me.”  

The last comment makes us both laugh, a light-hearted moment in what is a serious conversation, but a reminder that despite the wealth of knowledge and maturity that Sarah Corbett Lynch has been forced to obtain, she is a young woman who was dealt a bad hand and has truly made the most of it.