Two Announcements!

Hear ye, hear ye! Two announcements will come your way!

First, my popular book of short stories, ‘Long and Short Australian Stories’ will be available to download free from Amazon from 15th to 17th May, 2020.

Second, I’ve started my own YouTube channel. So far, it’s just a few piano pieces played by yours truly. Later, I hope to talk about my books. Subscribers appreciated!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEczhvrFA90Req3QFxU7-kQ

Boomer Lit: ‘Encore’!

Hello and thanks to those who have visited my blog!

For the moment, this is my final chance to give you a taste of my fiction writing, so I ‘ve decided to select one of the particular favourite vignettes of Goodreads reviewer Mark.

This sample is from my seventh title, ‘ENCORE’.

DEAR DAVID

Dear David,

I don’t think I could have believed it’s really you, if Gina hadn’t sworn she saw my photo on your hall table. Certainly, the snapshot she took last Sunday tugs ta my far-away memories; the blueness of your eyes I can never forget.

She tells me that the country life has kept you young; judging by your image, you certainly haven’t gone to seed, as have many of our peers!

So much water has passed under the bridge that I’m almost afraid to accept your invitation. In truth, I don’t know if I’m ready yet to let go of the past; and by that, as you’ve probably guessed, I mean the memory of Lloyd. He was, after all, my husband for thirty-one years.

I hope my decision doesn’t bring too much pain or disappointment to you. I know what it’s like to be left alone; and, dear David, I regret to hear that you’re even more alone than me. Gina  is a great comfort; a wonderful daughter; and Tom, her husband, is as close to me as my own flesh and blood.

*                    *                    *                    *                    *                    *                    *                    *

Are you enjoying this?

Then please consider adding this title to your collection. With a five star review from Goodreads member Mark, and a four star one from Brenda, surely it has something going for it!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/540946144

Brenda’s Review: ‘Encore’

Yesterday, the lovely Brenda Telford: a moderator of the Goodreads group, Aussie Readers: posted the following review of my sixth collection of Short Stories.

Encore
by Margaret Lynette Sharp (Goodreads Author)

Brenda‘s review

Mar 28, 13

4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: 2013-release, aussie-authors, gift-from-author, short-stories, romance

Read on March 27, 2013 — I own a copy

Encore by Margaret Lynette Sharp is an anthology of short romance stories. They are mostly based in and around Sydney, Australia, with the stories centering around young as well as older people. The variation of theme makes each story different, with most of them having a delightful little twist which more often than not made me smile.My favourite story was actually the first one, At Sixteen: Annie’s Story.With sixteen year old Annie living with her sister Sarah, and husband William because their parents are over in Paris, where they have been living and working for the past six months, she feels a little rebellious. Though Sarah feels a little nervous at the responsibility of being in charge of Annie, she feels Annie is a good girl. But when she finds Annie has been keeping company with an older man, she becomes worried. And as things escalate out of control, Sarah needs all her wiles about her to prevent a disaster in Annie’s life. Beautifully crafted with a clever twist at the end…There are some editing errors which I came across in the book, but they didn’t detract from my enjoyment. It’s a quick, easy read, with light entertainment throughout, one I would recommend to all romance lovers out there.Thanks to the author for my copy of this book to read and review.

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A big ‘Thank you’ to Brenda for this review.

Readers, do you like romantic vignettes and Short Stories? Do you like to support Australian writers, particularly emerging ones?

If so, this could be the type of book you’d love to get to know. It’s available through Amazon, in both paperback and Kindle editions.

It’s Published: ‘Encore’ !

It’s with great pleasure that I announce the publication of my seventh title: ‘Encore’: a collection of vignettes and Short Stories.

Many months in the pipeline, it has finally emerged: a brand new ‘baby’, hopefully full of promise.

As its name suggests, ‘Encore’ is a celebration of what has come before it: uplifting stories of love, romance, and life. Certainly, within its pages  there are echoes of its stablemates, both in terms of themes and diversity of characters. In common with all the other volumes, it’s edited by my husband, the organ-builder best known for his massive creation in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall: Ronald Sharp.

Of its twenty-five stories, my particular favourite is  ‘To The Beautiful Brigitte’:  a story of a relationship fostered by the writing of love-letters in that most romantic of languages, French. There is a twist to this tale which, if revealed at present, would tend to spoil the enjoyment of its readers: so I’ll leave it for your discovery.

If this is your genre, and you like to support Australian writers, then why not check out this brand new release? It will be on sale soon, both as a Kindle edition and in paperback through Amazon.

‘The Essence of Life and Love in Australia’ now on Kindle!!

I’m delighted to announce that my third collection of Short Stories and vignettes, ‘The Essence of Life and Love in Australia’, has just been released on Kindle.

Written following ’25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia’ and ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’, this volume continues in a similar fashion, with twenty-eight engaging tales, overwhelmingly  with romantic themes.

All my published books are edited by my husband Ronald Sharp, the Creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.

Here is the review of U.S.A.  Goodreads member, Mark.

Jun 26, 2012

Mark rated it

Shelves: literature

Margaret Lynette Sharp untangles small knots in our emotional constitution, of hesitancy, of love and affection, of wistful regret and of loss acknowledged, but not without hope.This is a collection of stories and of finely-wrought encounters, sometimes between two people almost in love or partly in affection, sometimes just between the protagonist and her own feelings, each one playing on a familiar but resonant theme and dissecting a vexing unconscious puzzle, in the way that dreams do.Sharp likes to hone in on her characters’ fraught needs, and she likes to meet them. The need of a person immured in the wrong relationship to find an out, or the need of someone alone to find an in, a place to be or a partner to be with. There is a daughter who can’t seek a life because of the needs of her mother, but finds the strength, and a mother prevented by her daughter from returning to the forty-years-gone love of her youth, about whom, it turns out, not all is known. She buys the ticket, anyway. The author will not leave her own “children” stranded.So read these for diversion and emotional resolution of the sort that our unconscious minds try to give to us in sleep, but the stories are in no way sleepy. They’re hyper-alert, they’re aware of the intricacies, and they’re uplifting. A nice way of disposing of the toxicity of living the day.(less)

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If you’re looking for a highly readable volume of romantic Short Stories and vignettes, why not consider ‘The Essence of Life and Love in Australia’?

Here it is: A Quick Guide to My Books

It suddenly occurred to me that no-where on this blog is a list of my self published books: each edited by my husband, organ builder Ronald Sharp. So I decided to use my initiative, and make one! Hope you find it useful!

1. 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia.

This is the first in a series of four collections of easy to read  short stories and vignettes.  Available on Kindle: just $4.99

2. A Taste of Life and Love in Australia

The second one, containing many personal favourites. I’m delighted by the positive reviews this has received: wonderful feedback. Thanks to all contributors!  Available on Kindle: just $4.99

3. The Essence of Life and Love in Australia

Number three, and praised by U.S. Goodreads member Mark.

4. Reflections of Life and Love in Australia

The fourth and final part of the series, continues in the same vein.

5. 60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences

A light-hearted look at life through the eyes of an Australian female baby boomer. Available on Kindle: just $4.99

6. Long and Short Australian Stories

Also reviewed by Mark, and accepted for review by one of Australia’s most respected book bloggers, Shelleyrae at Book’d out, this is a selection of both longer short stories and vignettes, mostly romances. Available on Kindle: just $4.99

So, there it is: a summary of my works so far.
Their chief virtues are, I believe, their consistent ease of reading,  engagement and evocation. But as my late mother often said, self praise is no recommendation. The answer? Why not peruse some sample pages yourself, and see what you think! You never know: you may well be in for a pleasant surprise.:)

Mark’s Review: 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia

The day started well, with my discovery of a lovely review by Goodreads member Mark.

Overflowing with praise for my writing style, he goes on to lightly sketch some of the stories. It turns out his chosen ones rank amongst my favourites.

A defining feature of my ‘Life and Love’ series is the link between the first and last stories, and Mark has brought this out effectively for this volume.

It’s so nice to know that my first effort, written almost two years ago, is attracting such positive attention. It’s only weeks ago that Jeanette, another Goodreads member, also reviewed and rated it identically.

It couldn’t have happened at a better time, with me still recovering from influenza. It’s a great shot in the arm!

Yes, another 5 star review!

’25 Stories…’ and ‘A Taste..’: Both Kindle Best Sellers Ranked

Here’s an update: two  or three days in, both ’25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia’ and ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’ are both to be found on the Amazon Kindle best sellers list!

Okay, they’re in the #170,000’s : but a start’s a start!

Maybe there’s a resurgence in the popularity of Short Stories and vignettes, particularly those with happy endings. With time at a premium, maybe reading a little and often, with satisfaction at each sitting, is the way of the future. I can only conjecture.

July is the month that Shelleyrae at Book’d out has  graciously listed ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’ for review. Who knows the degree of interest this will engender?

As a newcomer to all this, I can’t draw on any previous experience. All I can do is hope: and cross my fingers!

’25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia’ now on Kindle

At last, we’ve caught up with technology and published with Kindle!

My first book, 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia’: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008FP217C: is now available.

There’s a diverse range of stories and vignettes, such as ‘Family Values’ ( a tale about a family visiting their folks in the country); ‘New Digs’ (about an elderly lady changing her address); ‘Fresh Pickings’ ( a tale of young love and expectations); ‘The Virgin Dancer’ ( discovering dancing in middle age) and ‘A Question of Trust’ ( a new relationship in trouble).

Many readers have told me that they liked it very much, and some have purchased extra copies as gifts.

If you like Short Stories, particularly those written by Australian women writers, then I suggest you investigate this volume.

‘A Song for Ellie’ : from ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’

 

‘Did she notice me in the crowd?  Was I just another face, beaming my approval, my adulation?  Or was her smile, in my direction,  truly meant for me?’

 

Thus begins ‘A Song for Ellie’, one of the twenty-eight stories in ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’: my one and only book to receive a professional review by Australian writer Jenny Schwartz. To say the truth: my one and only book to be seriously appraised.

 

‘A Song for Ellie’ tells the story of a smitten, genuine young man who uses his initiative in an attempt at wooing a young, naive singer. It’s one of my favourite stories in the ‘Life and Love’ series.

 

I don’t know what Jenny thought of it: she didn’t specify any particular likes: but I’m delighted to say she seems to have strongly approved of the book in its entirety. She rated it 5 Stars!

 

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