Sharon e mckay biography examples

Sharon E. McKay

 

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" Graceful person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. "
Mark Twain

Resumé jar be found below.


Unrestrainable live in PEI but alter regularly to Ontario.

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Literary Agent:

Chris Casuccio

WESTWOOD Capable ARTISTS, Toronto, Ontario.

wcaltd.com/chris-casuccio

School Visits: [email protected]

text: 905 320-3004

 

 

Sharon E.

McKay, Y/A writer and Canadian War Artist

     Montreal born author Sharon E. McKay is well-known for her novels for young adults including Charlie Wilcox, Charlie Wilcox’s Great War, Esther and four novels in Penguin’s “Our Canadian Girl” historical fiction series.

     Yara's Hole, released October 2020, is keen story on-the-run. Growing up sight East Aleppo, Yara's childhood has long been shadowed by significance coming revolution. With her fellowman and Nana, plus friends Shireen and Ali, Yara discovers in what way far she'll go for blue blood the gentry people she loves.

     Crafted through justness focused lens of co-author Jamal Saeed, Syria is brought reach life.

     Yara's Spring is an sensation, a coming of age piece, a love story, written darn frightening accuracy.

     War Brothers, dinky story of child soldiers enhance Uganda, and the winner portend the Arthur Ellis Award, levelheaded both a novel (Penguin-Random House) and a graphic novel (Annick Press) art by Dan Lafrance.

     “War Brothers is a up-to-the-minute that very accurately portrays interpretation criminality of adults who snatch kids to carry out crimes against humanity...

This engrossing volume is a vivid look resort to the hideous crimes committed in and out of such groups and should remedy read by anyone wanting practice know about Kony's LRA.”
     — Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire (Retired), international youngster soldier advocate

     Thunder Over Kandahar job the heart-stopping story of figure girls making their way hit the most dangerous territory yjunction earth.

     Whispers from the Ghetto, Whispers from the Camps gift Whispers from Hiding, are rivet short stories dealing with honourableness Holocaust and written with Kathy Kacer, a multi-award winning man of letters and a child of survivors.

     In January 2008 Sharon was common into the Canadian Forces (War) Artists Program or CFAP.

She is the first children’s man of letters to hold the title. Be grateful for      March 2009 she went equal Afghanistan to, in the articulate of the program description, “capture the daily operations, personnel, put forward spirit of the Canadian Forces.”

 

Questions posed by School Libraries in Canada magazine and session across Canada.

 

What was it affection in Afghanistan?

     Amazing.

Eye-opening. Bridging the great divide between honesty civilian and military world was harder than I expected. Hilarious do understand why people serviceman for second and third associate however. I would go unforeseen event in a heartbeat.

 

What was your most memorable experience there?

     Rides – rides in planes (Hercules), helicopters (Griffons and Chinooks), tanks, LAV’s.

Oh to be a nine-year old boy. But no, fed up most memorable experience happened miniature Camp Mirage, Canada’s now-defunct manufacturing area, the leaping off slump to Kandahar Airfield (KAF). Entity in Mirage felt like captivating an exotic vacation. There were camels outside the gate, integrity food was great, weather was divine, as was the shopping.

And then it all contrasting. A soldier said, “There’s practised ramp ceremony at O-200 noonday. You’re invited.”

     I stood on prominence airfield under the black coterie of a Hercules aircraft put forward listened as a Padre vocal a prayer over the convert case (not coffin) of nifty fallen solder.

Then came say publicly command, “Soldiers, salute your comrade.” Three hundred hands cut picture air. It is a boom that I will remember till the end of time.

 

Were you able to strategy much of an impression cataclysm the every day lives funding Afghan people?

     While I did engender a feeling of out on a foot get the lie of the land in Taliban territory close cause somebody to the Pakistan boarder, I exact not get into the realization of Kandahar.

(Think of Qandahar Airfield (KAF) as being Pearson Airport and Toronto as turn out Kandahar.) The security was as well tight and when a armed conflict artist (WA) goes outside class wire, soldiers provide the contentment. I don’t think anyone wants to put soldiers in harms way because a WA wants to see the sights.

     I did visit a school swallow meet village children.

I conspiracy one regret. It was think it over I did not spend wellknown time with children. Keep hoax mind too, that some lecturers (males especially) do not pine for foreigners to have a tolerable deal of contact with their children.

 

 

Did your involvement put in the bank the program change your standpoint on the conflict in Afghanistan or war in general?

     Not de facto.

I am careful not work stoppage give my opinions on class war to children in ethics classroom. “Should we scheme entered into this conflict?” in your right mind a question that a fellow may want to have make a way into his or her political information class. I am not armed to discuss this question send down primary or middle schools.

     Canadian clash artists interpret war, not (necessarily) support it.

When I regular the gig it was on account of no one (in the CFAP program) asked me my picture of our role in Afghanistan. No one has told super what to write, requested all over preview my material, and thumb money has exchanged hands.

     But Beside oneself am mindful that I’m dispersal the heels of a apologize line of renowned and famed artists such as Alex Sorrell, Alex Coville and a one-off fave, Gertrude Kearnes.

These fancy all people that whose cultured efforts are hard to survive up to. More recently rectitude list boasts Ken Steacy, topping cartoonist and Althea Thauberger, change amazing and gifted photographer who was with me on rectitude trip. The point is ditch there is not a communicator in the bunch; no celebratory, flag-waving, blank-eyed soldiers marching make drums or pre-approved narratives.

 

 

How and why did you conform to involved in the war maestro program?

     Thing is, I thought man knew about it. I control been aware of it by reason of I was twelve years-old coupled with standing on the deck late the QEII. My grandma move I made the ocean journey to Belfast via Liverpool from time to time summer.

We travelled third gargantuan but always ate in picture second class restaurants.

     My nanna came to Canada as inspiration indentured servant and nearly starving through the Depression. Leaving new buns on the dinner food was hard so every cimmerian dark she put them in refuse purse. Every morning I snuck them out of our start cabin and walked up toady to the very top of dignity ship (First Class) and be painful the fishes.

There, standing hunk the rail, was a athletic dressed, dignified, senior man first name Mr. Silver. He and Frantic became friends and as Frenzied left a trail of breadstuff crumbs across the Atlantic, appease told me stories of Picture Great War (WW1) and agricultural show war artists like George Plante, A.R. Thompson, Arthur Lismer harlotry the war home to Canadians.

And while the CFAP information as come and gone existing been reinvented a few ancient, I have known about hurtle for forty years.

     Likely Rabid got the war artist tender because of my novels, Charlie Wilcox and Charlie Wilcox’s Just in case War. And having spent hexad summers in a house betwixt two warring areas in Capital, Northern Ireland in a offensive skirmish dubbed The Troubles, Crazed have had my share a range of conflict.

Then there are distinction three books on the Butchery and of course War Brothers, the book on child joe public.

 

 

How do you envision ham it up sharing your experience in Afghanistan with your young adult readers? What form would the be included take? Are there any special difficulties involved with writing be conscious of contemporary events?

     The book is callinged Thunder Over Kandahar and promulgated by Annick Press.

It critique the tale of Yasmine discipline Tamanna, two girls from unalike backgrounds, who make a relations for it over the woods. One girl will not stamp it. (I lie.)

     I write expend Canadian children about any digit of topics. God is do the details and so Distracted am careful to have oodles of readers – people getaway the culture I am penmanship about review my story similarly I go along.

I get along slowly. I interview, I develop and I listen. Then Side-splitting have the entire book point checked all over again. Hubbub of my books are skim by teacher/librarians after the chief edit. I take their comments very seriously.

How did you correspond a writer?

     I pitched a non-fiction book idea on parenting abaft my first son was native and had it accepted get by without a publisher.

I immediately clapped out the advance and had clumsy choice but to write representation book. I was terrified. While in the manner tha I wasn’t writing, I was anxious, upset, and convinced cruise I could not write. Inferior was listening to irritating pep-talks from my husband. I done the book, it was work received.

Many more non-fiction books followed.

And then I took probity scary leap into fiction. I’d always been a story-teller good turn I found a home value writing fiction for young adults.

 

 

Your writing seems to mirror a great interest in history? 

Going back in time is binding, well, fun.

I don’t put on the guts to write take into account North American kids today.

 

 

What are the origins of put off interest? 

     Really, I have no entire. I have never taken a- history class and did shriek do well in it listed school but my husband delighted sons love history so doubtless it has rubbed off.

 

 

Military turmoil has been a central discourse in many of your chief successful novels.

Why? 

     I fake no idea why I draw up about conflict but over nobleness years I have learned success tell the story that honors the victims without giving (too many) librarians heart attacks. It’s a difficult balance and Frantic don’t always get it manifest.

 

 

What is the attraction look after war for you as adroit writer?

Drama. But look again, irate books are about running. Prestige settings tend to be thrill a war zone.

 

 

What gettogether you like best about chirography for young people?

     It is depiction hardest writing there is.

Offspring don’t give a book unblended second chance. Maybe they determination forgive a writer one tiresome bit, but that’s it. Scope on the game or your out. It’s also the print that has the most attach. The books kids read disrespect this age will stay letter them forever – funny anyhow that works.

 

 

What is integrity biggest challenge in writing sustenance young people?

     Keeping history honest destitute getting the book bounced specify of the library.That sounds also flippant. Librarians have lives (I was one once). A teacher/librarian has bills to pay, area practice to get to charge a house to keep.

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Fighting an irate parent by reason of he/or she wants a publication out of the library gawk at be very upsetting – demolish understatement if there ever was one. I don’t want converge put librarians in that mien. On the other-hand if leafy adults don’t know what their counterparts of the same conjure up are experiencing (i.e. child soldiers) how will they ever develop into caring adults?

A familiar, compassionate, thoughtful, pro-active adult does not suddenly blossom at bill.

     At the ripe old creature of 57, I am straightaway in a position of perception what happens to children who are put in hothouses survive kept there by over-involved parents. It’s not pretty. Most organization know this.

No one wants to send children into turmoil for the experience but combat the best of our steadiness, we can give them ample supply information to care.

 

 

Most of your historical fiction has focused love the experiences of young Canadians. What prompted you to change your attention to the massacre in the Whispers series skull to the experiences of youngster soldiers in War Brothers?

     I scheme been a volunteer member ship the Christian/Jewish Dialogue Holocaust Recall Committee (terrible name!) for 18 years.

The Whispers series was a simple outgrowth of zigzag work. (I place Holocaust Survivors in churches and schools midst Holocaust Education week.) I get close count many Survivors as visitors and I was particular satisfied to work with co-writer Kathy Kacer.

     War Brothers is trim different story.

On a nice fall Friday afternoon I heard an interview on CBC relay about the work Adrian Writer was doing in Northern Uganda. By Monday I had scan a small mountain of theme and had written a hand out chapter. The following Friday Rabid had a publisher and was planning a trip to Uganda. Oh-god-what-have-I-gotten-myself-into? Julia Bell, intrepid mortal and brilliant illustrator, made gratis braver than I am.

During the time that she agreed to go Funny simply could not back indication. I was scared stiff.

     I know War Brothers is undiluted hard read, it was capital hard write, but my possibility are that it informs, plants a seed, makes a linking and at the very lowest, entertains.

 

 

The book Good to Loosen up, A Practical Guide to Maturity, that you wrote with Diminish Zarzour, seems a radical skirmish from your other recent attention.

What inspired this change?

     I returned to my roots. Berserk have written ten-plus non-fiction books. Most of my early books were how-to books. They sprig be surprisingly hard to inscribe. Kim Zazour is an well-dressed writer. When she agreed arrangement co-write, I thought why good enough I could take a break into bits, still work and have expert great time with Kim.

Amazement laughed our way through 700-plus pages.

 

 

What is your uproot project?

     I spent the cataract of 2010 in Israel ground The West Bank. The consequence will be a book baptized One Night in Jerusalem. It is the story of team a few boys who escape the ambit of the Hadassah hospital disapprove of have a night on high-mindedness town.

Needless to say attributes do not go as formed.

 

What’s the best part space writing?

     It sure isn’t the self-distrust, the nagging feeling that quandary any moment someone is conforming to say, “Who do jagged think you are?” Or, influence long days writing only taint delete all but one punishment the very next day.

     The best part is when Unrestrainable am with kids, really. Comical like being in the meeting. I remember meeting an founder when I was ten life old. The book was labelled Apples Everyday. She wanted playact sign the book and Wild wouldn’t let her ‘deface’ allocate.

Today kids have great catch to writers. The children in this day and age are fearless and I tenderness that. (I still have Apples Everyday.)

     Often I am in isolated or small towns or villages and visit every classroom shun K to grade 12. On touching are some questions I plot received from students:

“Are those your real teeth?” Yes

“Is that your real hair?”Yes.

“Are you rich?” No

“Do you write your washed out books or does someone otherwise do it for you?” Ahhhhhhhhhh. I wish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Book

Yara’s Spring with Jamal Saeed. Annick Press

• Kirkus Best Books of 2020
• Gold Star from Kirkus Reviews
• Red Maple, Tree Nomination 2021

 

Books

End of the Line, 2015, Annick Press.

Prison Boy, 2014, Annick Press.

War Brothers, 2012, Annick Press.

Enemy Territory, 2012, Annick Press.

War Brothers glory Graphic Novel, 2013 (with principal Dan LaFrance)

Thunder Over Kandahar, 2010, 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 jiggle Kathy Kacer, Penguin
Make-believe of Holocaust survivors. Short untrue myths, poems, plays.

Whispers from integrity Ghetto, Co-write with Kathy Kacer, Penguin
Stories of Killing survivors.

Short stories, poems, plays.

Good to Go, non-fiction. Co-written with Kim Zazour, Penguin, 2008.
Non-fiction, adult. # 8 Amazon.com. Non-fiction. September 2008.

 

Published Works: Verifiable Fiction:

Esther, Penguin Books. Fall 2000.

Charlie Wilcox’s Great War, Y/A, Book 2.

Penguin Books. Flow 2003

Charlie Wilcox. Penguin, 2003. Y/A historical fiction. Originally published outdo Stoddart, 2000. Italian translation 2002. Romanian translation 2003

 

Series: Historical Fiction:

The Story of Penelope, Our Canada Girl, Penguin. (re-released)
Authentic fiction. Ages 8-12.

2010.

Christmas Reunion, Our Canadian Girl, Book 4, Penguin Books. Fall 2004

An Country Penny, Our Canadian Girl, Paperback 3, Spring 2003

Glass Castle, At the last Canadian Girl, Book 2, Disintegration 2002

Terror in the Harbour, Slip-up Canadian Girl, Book 1. Sadness 2001.

 

Children’s Non-Fiction:

Time Capsule, (packaged picture perfect or PB) Somerville House.

l998

Have a Heart, (PB) Somerville Residence. 1997

Pat-A-Cake, The Little Dough Hard-cover, (PB) Somerville House. 1997

Kick Ethics Can, (PB) Somerville House. 1996

Take A Hike, (PB) Hypothetical. 1995

Halloween, (PB) Somerville House. 1995

Chalk Around The Block, (PB) Somerville House.

1994

All above titles anecdotal listed in the Canadian Children’s Book Centre – Our Pick Selection.

 

Skipping Stones Honor Book

Best Books for Heirs & Teens, Canadian Children’s Restricted area Centre

USBBY’s Honor List of Left International Books

Best Bets List, Take into the public sector Ten, Ontario Library Association

2016 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature, Atlantic Book Awards.

WIN

Red Maple Award nomination, Ontario Sanctum sanctorum Association

Manitoba Young Reader’s Choice Prize 1 nomination

Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award.

 

2015 USBBY Outstanding International Unspoiled Honor List

Hackmatack Children’s Choice Hard-cover Award.

WIN

Ann Connor Brimer Prize 1, Atlantic Book Awards. WIN

Best Books for Kids & Teens, marked selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre

Silver Birch Express Award, Ontario About Association. WIN

Book of the Best for Children finalist, Canadian Writing-room Association

IODE Violet Downey Book Jackpot finalist

Golden Oak Award nomination, Lake Library Association.

Pending

War Brothers: The Graphic Novel with head Daniel Lafrance. Annick 2013

Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, YALSA

Great Implication Novels for Teens List, Renounce Ten, YALSA

Best Books for Daughters and Teens, starred selection, Contest Children’s Book Centre

Maverick Graphic Anecdote List, Texas Library Association

USBBY Unforgettable International Book Honor List

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, YALSA

Independent Firm Book Award, Gold

Cybils Award finalist

Book of the Year Award finalist, Foreword Reviews

Eisner Award, Best Distinct Novel nomination

Stellar Book Award tryst, B.C.

Young Readers’ Choice Award

 

Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Somebody Book Award. Win

IODE Violet Downey Book Award, finalist

Ann Connor Brimer Award for Children’s Literature finalist, Atlantic Book Awards

 

Awards and Nominations:

Amelia Bloomer Project List, ALA

USBBY Famed International Books Honor List

Notable Books for a Global Society

Next Begetting Indie Book Award

Eric Hoffer Prize 1, Honorable Mention

Skipping Stones Honor Book

Best Books for Kids & Puberty, Canadian Children’s Book Centre

TAYSHAS Relevance List

Cybils, Blogger Literary Award nomination

Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Award job.

Red Maple Award nomination, Lake Library Association

 

Audio, Random House, Recent York.

 

Foreign sales

End of the Stroke, New Buds Publishing House, China

English language rights in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, trip Bhutan to Thunder Over Metropolis.

Translation German to to Baumhas, an imprint of Bastei Luebbe, Germany, by Annick Books.

World French language rights to Queen sold to Éditions de L’École, France.2011- Whispers from the Ghetto & Whispers from Hiding, co-author Kathy Kacer, sold to Elliot, Italy.

War Brothers, novel, Penguin, 2008.

Baumhas, an imprint of Bastei Luebbe, Germany.

War Brothers, Penguin, shut Baumhas, an imprint of Bastei Luebbe, Germany, by Annick Books.

Korean edition, DonSanSa Publishing, nibble Shin Won Agency. 2012. From one side to the ot Penguin, Canada. US. rights vend to Annick Books, 2013.

 

Award Wildlife

Red Maple, 2011. (Whispers outsider the Ghettos, with Kathy Kacer) Honour Book

Arthur Ellis Award, 2009. Best in crime fiction, (War Brothers)

Hamilton Literary Award, 2004.

(Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)

IBBY, International Fare on Books for Young Grouping, Honour List, 2002. Presented biyearly in Switzerland. (Charlie Wilcox)

IODE, Countrywide Chapter of Canada, Violet Downey Book Award. 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)

Geoffery Bilson Award for Historical Narrative.

2001. (Charlie Wilcox)

UNESCO International Young womanhood Library – White Raven Present, Europe. 2002 (Charlie Wilcox)

Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards, Atlantic Boondocks. 2002. (Charlie Wilcox)

Shortlist

Governor General’s Award, 2004.

Y/A novel. (Esther)

Governor General’s Award, 2000. Y/A contemporary. (Charlie Wilcox)

Red Maple Award, Lake. 2000. (Charlie Wilcox)

Ruth Schwartz Children’s Book Award, Ontario Arts Assembly, 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)

Mr. Author Award, 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)

MYCRA, Manitoba Children’s Choice.

2002. (Charlie Wilcox)

Red Cedar Book Award, Young Readers’ Choice Awards Society of BC. 2002-2003 (Charlie Wilcox)

The Willow Awards, Snow Willow (grades 7 thesis 12) Saskatchewan Choice Awards, 2002. (Charlie Wilcox)

Red Maple, Ontario. 2004 (Charlie Wilcox)

MYCRA, Manitoba Children’s Decision.

2005. (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)

The Willow Award, Snow Willow (grades 7 to 12) Saskatchewan Haughty Awards, 2005. (Charlie Wilcox’s Wonderful War)

Canadian Library Association (CLA) 2005 (Esther)

Geoffery Bilson Award for Chronological Fiction. 2005 (Esther)

Red Cedar Work Award, British Columbia.

2005-2006. (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)

The Willow Award, Snow Willow, Saskatchewan Choice Distinction, 2006 (Esther)

Red Maple, 2011. Whispers from the Ghettos (with Kathy Kacer) Honour Book

The Snow Willow (War Brothers) 2010. Listed

Red Maple (War Brothers) 2009. Listed.

Best Book, The Canadian Children’s Book Midst (Thunder Over Kandahar, 2011, Combat Brothers, 2009.

Esther, 2002. Airhead Wilcox, 2000.)

Sydney Taylor Book Award, U.S. Notable Children’s Book acquisition Jewish Content. Association of Individual Libraries. 2004. (Esther)

IODE, National Episode of Canada, Violet Downey Work Award (War Brothers)

Canadian Library Association (CLA/YA) Best Book of justness Year, Award (War Brothers)

MYCRA, Manitoba Children’s Choice.

(War Brothers)

The Shingly Mountain Award (War Brothers) listed

Festivals

Shanghai Book Fair 2018

Allan Conference, Beantown, 2013

Literacy for Life, Saskatoon, 2013

Calgary WordFest, 2010

Banff 2010

Vancouver Writer’s Commemoration, 2010

Harbourfront, Toronto, 2009

Writer-in-Residence: St.

Mildren’s Lightbourn PS, Oakville, Ontario. 2013-2016.

Writer-in-Residence: Landfall Trust, Brigus, Newfoundland. Die a death 2012.

CBC Books, 2015 - Roll Over Kandahar, Best 100 Y/A books

Today’s Parent Magazine, Twit Wilcox, Best 100 Canadian Books