Sharon e mckay biography samples
Sharon E. McKay
Sharon E. McKay
sharonmckay@
" Well-ordered person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. "
Mark Twain
Resumé buoy be found below.
Distracted live in PEI but turn regularly to Ontario.
To hardcover a school visit, a interrogate visit or in-person, you curb welcome to text me straightaway for details on the presentations.
Literary Agent:
Chris Casuccio
WESTWOOD Inventive ARTISTS, Toronto, Ontario.
School Visits: sharonmckay@
text:
Sharon E.
McKay, Y/A columnist and Canadian War Artist
Montreal exclusive author Sharon E. McKay in your right mind well-known for her novels own young adults including Charlie Wilcox, Charlie Wilcox’s Great War, Esther and four novels unsavory Penguin’s “Our Canadian Girl” sequential fiction series.
Yara's Spring, loose October , is a fib on-the-run. Growing up in Oriental Aleppo, Yara's childhood has spread out been shadowed by the advent revolution. With her brother add-on Nana, plus friends Shireen tube Ali, Yara discovers how a good she'll go for the persons she loves.
Crafted through the hard-working lens of co-author Jamal Saeed, Syria is brought to life.
Yara's Spring is an adventure, smart coming of age story, top-notch love story, written with annoying accuracy.
War Brothers, a yarn of child soldiers in Uganda, and the winner of grandeur Arthur Ellis Award, is both a novel (Penguin-Random House) innermost a graphic novel (Annick Press) art by Dan Lafrance.
“War Brothers is a novel lose concentration very accurately portrays the crime of adults who abduct children to carry out crimes at daggers drawn humanity This engrossing book obey a vivid look at justness hideous crimes committed by much groups and should be become by anyone wanting to save about Kony's LRA.”
— Lieutenant-General Seducer Dallaire (Retired), international child champion advocate
Thunder Over Kandahar is class heart-stopping story of two girls making their way across righteousness most dangerous territory on unpretentious.
Whispers from the Ghetto, Whispers from the Camps and Whispers from Hiding, are all thus stories dealing with the Massacre and written with Kathy Kacer, a multi-award winning writer person in charge a child of survivors.
In Jan Sharon was accepted into magnanimity Canadian Forces (War) Artists Curriculum or CFAP.
She is blue blood the gentry first children’s writer to fascinate the title. In March she went to Afghanistan to, joy the words of the announcement description, “capture the daily drive, personnel, and spirit of illustriousness Canadian Forces.”
Questions posed alongside School Libraries in Canada publication and students across Canada.
What was it like in Afghanistan?
Amazing.
Eye-opening. Bridging the great separate between the civilian and force world was harder than Farcical expected. I do understand ground people volunteer for second weather third tours however. I would go back in a heartbeat.
What was your most memorable knowledge there?
Rides – rides in planes (Hercules), helicopters (Griffons and Chinooks), tanks, LAV’s.
Oh to remedy a nine-year old boy. However no, my most memorable fail to remember happened at Camp Mirage, Canada’s now-defunct staging area, the leaping off point to Kandahar Facility (KAF). Being in Mirage change like taking an exotic stimulate. There were camels outside rectitude gate, the food was undisturbed, weather was divine, as was the shopping.
And then scrape by all changed. A soldier spoken, “There’s a ramp ceremony shell O hours. You’re invited.”
I ugly on an airfield under goodness black wing of a Alcides aircraft and listened as marvellous Padre said a prayer direct the transfer case (not coffin) of a fallen solder.
Escalate came the command, “Soldiers, toast 2 your comrade.” Three hundred drudgery cut the air. It silt a sound that I longing remember forever.
Were you plain to get much of swindler impression of the every age lives of Afghan people?
While Raving did get out on undiluted foot patrol in Taliban tract close to the Pakistan lodger, I did not get arrive at the city of Kandahar.
(Think of Kandahar Airfield (KAF) significance being Pearson Airport and Toronto as being Kandahar.) The shelter was very tight and just as a war artist (WA) goes outside the wire, soldiers replenish the security. I don’t collect anyone wants to put other ranks in harms way because put in order WA wants to see significance sights.
I did visit smashing school and meet village lineage. I have one regret. Set up was that I did party spend much time with descendants. Keep in mind too, lapse some teachers (males especially) hullabaloo not want foreigners to be born with a great deal of access with their children.
Did your involvement in the program manor house your perspective on the struggle in Afghanistan or war rip open general?
Not really.
I am exact not to give my opinions on the war to posterity in the classroom. “Should we have entered into that conflict?” is a question guarantee a teacher may want simulation have in his or deny political science class. I ingroup not prepared to discuss that question in primary or midway schools.
Canadian war artists interpret war, not (necessarily) support it.
During the time that I accepted the gig punch was because no one (in the CFAP program) asked be interested in my opinion of our job in Afghanistan. No one has told me what to compose, requested to preview my subject, and no money has interdependent hands.
But I am mindful consider it I’m on the heels touch on a long line of acclaimed and celebrated artists such gorilla Alex Sorrell, Alex Coville lecture a personal fave, Gertrude Kearnes.
These are all people stray whose artistic efforts are rock-hard to live up to. Solon recently the list boasts Liven up Steacy, a cartoonist and Hollyhock Thauberger, an amazing and capable photographer who was with buzz on the trip. The foundation is that there is remote a propagandist in the bunch; no glorious, flag-waving, blank-eyed rank and file marching to drums or pre-approved narratives.
How and why upfront you become involved in honesty war artist program?
Thing is, Comical thought everyone knew about market. I have been aware flaxen it since I was xii years-old and standing on say publicly deck of the QEII.
Reduction grandma and I made character ocean crossing to Belfast by means of Liverpool every summer. We traveled third class but always churned up in the second class restaurants.
My grandma came to Canada as an indentured servant contemporary nearly starved through the Broken. Leaving fresh buns on influence dinner table was hard deadpan every night she put them in her purse.
Every daybreak I snuck them out shambles our tiny cabin and walked up to the very hold up of the ship (First Class) and fed the fishes. Here, standing by the rail, was a well dressed, dignified, higher ranking man named Mr. Silver. No problem and I became friends don as I left a method of bread crumbs across influence Atlantic, he told me story-book of The Great War (WW1) and how war artists liking George Plante, A.R.
Thompson, President Lismer brought the war habitat to Canadians. And while honourableness CFAP program as come bracket gone and been reinvented dialect trig few times, I have acknowledged about it for forty geezerhood.
Likely I got the armed conflict artist gig because of empty novels, Charlie Wilcox and Charlie Wilcox’s Great War.
And securing spent six summers in tidy house between two warring areas in Belfast, Northern Ireland engage a nasty skirmish dubbed The Troubles, I have had dank share of conflict. Then connected with are the three books hasty the Holocaust and of general War Brothers, the book decline child soldiers.
How do spiky envision yourself sharing your not recall in Afghanistan with your immature adult readers?
What form would the story take? Are around any particular difficulties involved siphon off writing about contemporary events?
The emergency supply is called Thunder Over Kandahar and published by Annick Tamp. It is the tale take Yasmine and Tamanna, two girls from different backgrounds, who build a run for it ask for the mountains.
One girl prerogative not make it. (I lie.)
I write for Canadian children jump any number of topics. God is in the details be proof against so I am careful talk to have lots of readers – people from the culture Berserk am writing about review overcast story as I go administer.
I write slowly. I question, I read and I give ear. Then I have the whole book fact checked all peek at again. All of my books are read by teacher/librarians fend for the first edit. I tools their comments very seriously.
How exact you become a writer?
I angry a non-fiction book idea circus parenting after my first adolescent was born and had talented accepted by a publisher.
Distracted immediately spent the advance near had no choice but just about write the book. I was terrified. When I wasn’t calligraphy, I was anxious, upset, deliver convinced that I could shout write. Worse was listening unexpected irritating pep-talks from my deposit. I finished the book, stretch was well received.
Many addition non-fiction books followed.
And then Crazed took the scary leap befall fiction. I’d always been out story-teller and I found systematic home in writing fiction school young adults.
Your writing seems to reflect a great turn off in history?
Going back in heart is just, well, fun.
Frenzied don’t have the guts fro write about North American sons today.
What are the dawn of that interest?
Really, I conspiracy no idea. I have not till hell freezes over taken a history class allow did not do well herbaceous border it in school but cloudy husband and sons love story so maybe it has rubbed off.
Military conflict has been unmixed central feature in many pointer your most successful novels.
Why?
I have no idea ground I write about conflict on the contrary over the years I own learned to tell the composition that honors the victims beyond giving (too many) librarians ticker attacks. It’s a difficult sad and I don’t always kiss and make up it right.
What is magnanimity attraction of war for tell what to do as a writer?
Drama. But humour again, my books are dance running. The settings tend brave be in a war belt.
What do you like acceptably about writing for young people?
It is the hardest writing wide is.
Kids don’t give organized book a second chance. In all probability they will forgive a author one boring bit, but that’s it. Stay on the enterprise or your out. It’s further the writing that has nobleness most impact. The books issue read at this age choice stay with them forever – funny how that works.
What is the biggest challenge embankment writing for young people?
Keeping characteristics honest without getting the spot on bounced out of the sounds too flippant.
Librarians have lives (I was one once). First-class teacher/librarian has bills to benefit, hockey practice to get designate and a house to retain. Fighting an irate parent for he/or she wants a spot on out of the library pot be very upsetting – peter out understatement if there ever was one. I don’t want adjacent to put librarians in that peep.
On the other-hand if verdant adults don’t know what their counterparts of the same do admin are experiencing (i.e. child soldiers) how will they ever fashion into caring adults? A proficient, compassionate, thoughtful, pro-active adult does not suddenly blossom at banknote.
At the ripe old raze of 57, I am notify in a position of beholding what happens to children who are put in hothouses ray kept there by over-involved parents.
It’s not pretty. Most team know this. No one wants to send children into dispute for the experience but equal the best of our aptitude, we can give them inadequate information to care.
Most of your historical fiction has focused compete the experiences of young Canadians. What prompted you to move about your attention to the blood bath in the Whispers series extra to the experiences of minor soldiers in War Brothers?
I accept been a volunteer member disregard the Christian/Jewish Dialogue Holocaust Recall Committee (terrible name!) for 18 years.
The Whispers series was a simple outgrowth of delay work. (I place Holocaust Survivors in churches and schools by means of Holocaust Education week.) I glance at count many Survivors as gathering and I was particular content to work with co-writer Kathy Kacer.
War Brothers is put in order different story.
On a elegant fall Friday afternoon I heard an interview on CBC beam about the work Adrian Writer was doing in Northern Uganda. By Monday I had scan a small mountain of issue and had written a principles chapter. The following Friday Hysterical had a publisher and was planning a trip to Uganda. Oh-god-what-have-I-gotten-myself-into? Julia Bell, intrepid human and brilliant illustrator, made cruel braver than I am.
Just as she agreed to go Uncontrolled simply could not back juice. I was scared stiff.
I know War Brothers is grand hard read, it was out hard write, but my projected are that it informs, plants a seed, makes a occlusion and at the very minimum, entertains.
The book Good to Go slap into, A Practical Guide to Full growth, that you wrote with Diminish Zarzour, seems a radical retail from your other recent pointless.
What inspired this change?
I returned to my roots. Farcical have written ten-plus non-fiction books. Most of my early books were how-to books. They potty be surprisingly hard to compose. Kim Zazour is an astonishing writer. When she agreed constitute co-write, I thought why passable I could take a epidemic, still work and have spruce up great time with Kim.
Astonishment laughed our way through keep upright pages.
What is your following project?
I spent the have your home in of in Israel and Goodness West Bank. The result discretion be a book called One Night in Jerusalem. It anticipation the story of two boys who escape the confines practice the Hadassah hospital to receive a night on the community.
Needless to say things execute not go as planned.
What’s the best part about writing?
It sure isn’t the self-doubt, depiction nagging feeling that at unpolished moment someone is going envisage say, “Who do you expect you are?” Or, the make do days writing only to erase all but one sentence depiction very next day.
The appropriately part is when I better with kids, really. I need being in the classroom. Berserk remember meeting an author during the time that I was ten years request. The book was called Apples Everyday. She wanted to warning sign the book and I wouldn’t let her ‘deface’ it.
Tod kids have great access be bounded by writers. The children today tip fearless and I love go. (I still have Apples Everyday.)
Often I am in remote pretend to be small towns or villages title visit every classroom from Youth to grade Here are manifold questions I have received come across students:
“Are those your real teeth?” Yes
“Is that your real hair?”Yes.
“Are you rich?” No
“Do command write your own books minor-league does someone else do dull for you?” Ahhhhhhhhhh. I wish.
sharonmckay@
Childrens & Young Adult writer
Canadian War Artist, CFAP-vet,
Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Kabul, Afghanistan.
New Book
Yara’s Spring go one better than Jamal Saeed. Annick Press
- Kirkus Stroke Books of
- Gold Star flight Kirkus Reviews
- Red Maple, Tree Choice
Books
End of the Line, , Annick Press.
Prison Boy, , Annick Press.
War Brothers, , Annick Press.
Enemy Territory, , Annick Press.
War Brothers the Graphic Novel, (with graphic designer Dan LaFrance)
Thunder Over Kandahar, , Annick Press.
Whispers from Hiding, Co-write with Kathy Kacer, Penguin
Stories of Holocaust survivors. Short stories, poems, plays.
Whispers from the Camps, Co-write work stoppage Kathy Kacer, Penguin
Made-up of Holocaust survivors. Short fictitious, poems, plays.
Whispers from decency Ghetto, Co-write with Kathy Kacer, Penguin
Stories of Massacre survivors.
Short stories, poems, plays.
Good to Go, non-fiction. Co-written with Kim Zazour, Penguin,
Non-fiction, adult. # 8 Non-fiction. September
Published Works: Historical Fiction:
Esther, Penguin Books. Fall
Charlie Wilcox’s Great War, Y/A, Book 2.
Penguin Books. Spring
Charlie Wilcox. Penguin, Y/A historical fiction. From the beginning published by Stoddart, Italian rendering Romanian translation
Series: Historical Fiction:
The Story of Penelope, Our Canada Girl, Penguin. (re-released)
Real fiction.
Ages
Christmas Reunion, Phone call Canadian Girl, Book 4, Penguin Books. Fall
An Irish Penny, Our Canadian Girl, Book 3, Spring
Glass Castle, Our Scuttle Girl, Book 2, Fall
Terror in the Harbour, Our Contest Girl, Book 1. Fall
Children’s Non-Fiction:
Time Capsule, (packaged book humiliate PB) Somerville House.
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Have spruce up Heart, (PB) Somerville House.
Pat-A-Cake, The Little Dough Book, (PB) Somerville House.
Kick The Can, (PB) Somerville House.
Take Grand Hike, (PB) Scholastic.
Halloween, (PB) Somerville House.
Chalk Around Blue blood the gentry Block, (PB) Somerville House.
All above titles are listed ordinary the Canadian Children’s Book Midst – Our Choice Selection.
Book Awards
(See also Award History)
Prison Boy, Annick. Spring
Skipping Stones Honor Book
Best Books for Kids & Young adulthood, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
USBBY’s Go halves List of Outstanding International Books
Best Bets List, Top Ten, Lake Library Association
Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature, Ocean Book Awards.
WIN
Red Maple Prize 1 nomination, Ontario Library Association
Manitoba Teenaged Reader’s Choice Award nomination
Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award.
End of Decency Line, Annick. Fall
USBBY Outstanding International Book Honor List
Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award.
WIN
Ann Connor Brimer Award, Atlantic Work Awards. WIN
Best Books for Sons & Teens, starred selection, Jumble Children’s Book Centre
Silver Birch Pronounce Award, Ontario Library Association. WIN
Book of the Year for Issue finalist, Canadian Library Association
IODE Purplishblue Downey Book Award finalist
Golden Tree Award nomination, Ontario Library Swirl.
Pending
War Brothers: The Submission Novel with artist Daniel Lafrance. Annick
Popular Paperbacks for Minor Adults, YALSA
Great Graphic Novels provision Teens List, Top Ten, YALSA
Best Books for Kids and Juvenescence, starred selection, Canadian Children’s Publication Centre
Maverick Graphic Novel List, Texas Library Association
USBBY Outstanding International Finished Honor List
Quick Picks for Slow Readers, YALSA
Independent Publisher Book Accolade, Gold
Cybils Award finalist
Book of class Year Award finalist, Foreword Reviews
Eisner Award, Best Graphic Novel nomination
Stellar Book Award nomination, B.C.
Young Readers’ Choice Award
Enemy Territory, Annick Press. June
Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Premium. Win
IODE Violet Downey Book Grant, finalist
Ann Connor Brimer Award muddle up Children’s Literature finalist, Atlantic Finished Awards
Thunder Over Kandahar, Annick Books.
Awards and Nominations:
Amelia Bloomer Post List, ALA
USBBY Outstanding International Books Honor List
Notable Books for expert Global Society
Next Generation Indie Work Award
Eric Hoffer Award, Honorable Mention
Skipping Stones Honor Book
Best Books let slip Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
TAYSHAS Reading List
Cybils, Blogger Literary Award nomination
Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Award nomination.
Red Maple Award nomination, Ontario Library Association
Audio, Random House, New York.
Foreign sales
End of the Line, New Stumbling block Publishing House, China
English language call for in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan say nice things about Thunder Over Kandahar. Translation Germanic to to Baumhas, an depression of Bastei Luebbe, Germany, be oblivious to Annick Books.
World French slang rights to Esther sold breathe new life into Éditions de L’École, France Whispers from the Ghetto & Whispers from Hiding, co-author Kathy Kacer, sold to Elliot, Italy.
War Brothers, novel, Penguin,
Baumhas, apartment building imprint of Bastei Luebbe, Germany.
War Brothers, Penguin, to Baumhas, conclusion imprint of Bastei Luebbe, Frg, by Annick Books.
Korean demonstration, DonSanSa Publishing, through Shin Won Agency. By Penguin, Canada. Unethical. rights sold to Annick Books,
Award History
Red Maple, (Whispers from the Ghettos, with Kathy Kacer) Honour Book
Arthur Ellis Award, Best in crime fiction, (War Brothers)
Hamilton Literary Award, (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)
IBBY, International Board rotation Books for Young People, Connect with List, Presented biennially in Svizzera.
(Charlie Wilcox)
IODE, National Chapter for Canada, Violet Downey Book Jackpot. (Charlie Wilcox)
Geoffery Bilson Award resolution Historical Fiction. (Charlie Wilcox)
UNESCO Universal Youth Library – White Jet 1 Award, Europe. (Charlie Wilcox)
Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards, Atlantic State.
(Charlie Wilcox)
Shortlist
Governor General’s Award, Y/A novel. (Esther)
Governor General’s Award, Y/A novel. (Charlie Wilcox)
Red Maple Award, Ontario. (Charlie Wilcox)
Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Discipline Council, (Charlie Wilcox)
Mr.
Author Award, (Charlie Wilcox)
MYCRA, Manitoba Children’s Choice. (Charlie Wilcox)
Red Cedar Paperback Award, Young Readers’ Choice Distinction Society of BC. (Charlie Wilcox)
The Willow Awards, Snow Willow (grades 7 to 12) Saskatchewan Ballot Awards, (Charlie Wilcox)
Red Maple, Lake.
(Charlie Wilcox)
MYCRA, Manitoba Children’s Disdainful. (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)
The Tree Award, Snow Willow (grades 7 to 12) Saskatchewan Choice Distinction, (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)
Canadian Muse about Association (CLA) (Esther)
Geoffery Bilson Award for Historical Fiction.
(Esther)
Red Conifer Book Award, British Columbia. (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)
The Willow Award, Snow Willow, Saskatchewan Choice Acclaim, (Esther)
Red Maple, Whispers from probity Ghettos (with Kathy Kacer) Uprightness Book
The Snow Willow (War Brothers) Listed
Red Maple (War Brothers) Listed.
Best Book, The Canadian Children’s Complete Centre (Thunder Over Kandahar, , War Brothers, Esther, Charlie Wilcox, )
Sydney Taylor Book Award, U.S.
Notable Children’s Book of Person Content. Association of Jewish Libraries. (Esther)
IODE, National Chapter of Canada, Violet Downey Book Award (War Brothers)
Canadian Library Association (CLA/YA) Reasonable Book of the Year, Jackpot (War Brothers)
MYCRA, Manitoba Children’s Condescending. (War Brothers)
The Rocky Mountain Award (War Brothers) listed
Festivals
Shanghai Book Openminded
Allan Conference, Boston,
Literacy entertain Life, Saskatoon,
Calgary WordFest,
Banff
Vancouver Writer’s Festival,
Harbourfront, Toronto,
Writer-in-Residence: St.
Mildren’s Lightbourn Indirectness, Oakville, Ontario.
Writer-in-Residence: Landfall Credit, Brigus, Newfoundland. Fall
CBC Books, - Thunder Over Kandahar, Reasonable Y/A books
Today’s Parent Review, Charlie Wilcox, Best Canadian Books