She started writing novels when she was in the fourth or fifth grade of elementary school. In the library, Sakuraba often met a girl who she befriended that was writing something like a novel, so she decided to do the same, writing her first novel in her notebook.[3][4]
During her junior and senior high school years, Sakuraba skipped classes and cram school to read books.[3] She states that she was seemingly unable to and hated studying.[3] She graduated from Yonago Higashi High School and moved to Tokyo for university.[5] During university, she repeatedly tried but failed to write anything substantial.[4] Sakuraba continued to read books however and had a part-time job.[4]
In 1993, she won the DENiM New Writer's Award.[5] In 1999, Sakuraba's novel Yozora ni, Manten no Hoshi (later retitled Loneliness Guardian: AD2015 Isolated Town) received an honorable mention in the 1st Famitsu Entertainment Award in the novel category.[5] Novelist Usagi Nakamura was on the selection committee and recommended the work, barely making the selection and allowing Sakuraba to debut.[6] After her debut, there was a period of stagnation where Sakuraba did not publish much and the work she did publish did not sell well.[6]
In 2003, Sakuraba made her first big break with the light novel series Gosick.[4] In addition, her novels Suitei Shōjo and A Lollypop or A Bullet published in 2004 were highly acclaimed,[7] and in 2005, her novel Shōjo ni wa Mukanai Shokugyō attracted attention as her first work for the general public.[7]
In 2007, she won the 60th Mystery Writers of Japan Award in the long and serial short story category for her work Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas published in 2006.[1][8] The same work was nominated for the 28th Eiji Yoshikawa Literary Newcomer Award.[1] In 2008, she won the 138th Naoki Prize for her novel Watashi no Otoko.[1]
Books in the GOSICK series up to GOSICKs III were published originally by Fujimi Mystery Bunko; the publishing dates listed correspond to this printing. Between September 2009 and January 2011, these books were republished by Kadokawa Bunko. From February to November 2011 they were then republished by Kadokawa Beans Bunko. Starting with GOSICK VII the books have been published by Kadokawa Bunko exclusively.
Sakuraba's mainstream novels have been released by a variety of publishers. The bulk of them have also been rereleased several years after their original publishing dates by different publishers.
Red Girls: The Legend of the Akakuchibas was the winner of the 60th Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 2007, and Watashi no Otoko (My Man) won the 138th Naoki Prize in the latter half of the same year.
Aside from her works of fiction, Sakuraba has written a number of essays that have been compiled into collection. Her first essay collection, Nidaime no Baka ni Tsukeru Kusuri, was published under the masculine pen name Sakuramaru Yamada (山田桜丸, Yamada Sakuramaru).
