My name is Margaret Lynette Sharp, and I'm the wife of the creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, Ronald Sharp B.E.M. I'm proud to say that I've won two literary awards - one each at the 2014 and 2015 Short Story Writing Competition held as part of the Hurstville ( in suburban Sydney, Australia) Discovery Festival of Community Arts.
These stories have been published in prizewinners' anthologies, 'Write Out Loud' and 'The Art of Writing'.
My first venture into Jane Austen fan fiction resulted in the best-selling 'Longbourn Revisited'.
Next came the well-reviewed title, 'An Encounter at Longbourn', followed by 'A Party at Longbourn', 'And from Longbourn, A Wedding Comes,' and 'Much Ado at Longbourn'. Recently, these five stories were combined, forming the novel-length 'From Longbourn, With Love'.. To date, I have sixty-two published eBooks, and some of these are also available as paperbacks.
I grew up in an inner city suburb of Sydney, moving to a pleasant, tree-filled outer suburb at the age of ten. Ron and I currently live in this same house, a small Federation brick and tile home.
I'm thankful that we live near a river that has a large, netted swimming baths. I love to swim, and I've been a member of the local swimming club for well over thirty years. Our little white rescue dog, Chicki, comes with me and waits patiently while I enjoy the water. Afterwards comes her reward - a walk beside the river, and a chance to play on a little, sandy beach. Who knows what doggy friends she'll find there...
Back to my life story...
I cared for my elderly mother until her death eighteen years ago, and shortly afterwards met and later married Ron. He has encouraged all my interests, and has turned his hand to editing books that I have written.
Together we have published six volumes: a series of four books of Short Stories entitled 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia, A Taste of Life and Love in Australia, The Essence of Life and Love in Australia, and Reflections of Life and Love in Australia; a non-fiction, semi-humorous volume entitled 60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences; and the latest, Long and Short Australian Stories. All these are highly readable and, I firmly believe, most entertaining.
'A Taste of Life and Love in Australia' was reviewed in April 2012 by Australian author Jenny Schwartz, and she rated it five stars, and pointed to its humanity and Australian flavour. So review wise, I'm off to a wonderful start!
Since writing the above, we've published another collection of Short Stories and vignettes: 'Encore'. It has been very favourably reviewed by Goodreads members Mark and Brenda.
Shortly afterwards my first novella , Amelia's Call, was published, and has been favourably reviewed by a number of people.
My second novella, the romantic 'Michaela Betrayed', was released in 2013, and has also received some lovely reviews. This book includes a bonus of selected Short Stories and vignettes.
Another release was a short, romantic work, 'Lauren Played'.
Next came the romantic 'Love, Desire and Betrayal', which has reached #1 in Australian and Oceanian Literature (Amazon Kindle Paid).
Additional titles include 'Of Love and Secrets', 'Sisters and Rivals', 'Whatever It Takes' 'Romance, 50's Style', 'Uncertain Love', 'Love, Now and Then' and 'Love Denied'.
Over the few years I've had the honour of being a guest on the blogs of writers Tracey Alley, Rachael Johns, Nicole Alexander, Faith Mortimer, Pankaj Goyal and Sarah Jane Butfield.
