My ‘Encore’ has been Chosen!

What a surprise!

Yesterday I discovered that my seventh title, ‘Encore’, which was released this year, has been chosen as one of the four books of the month by the Goodreads group, Writer and Readers.

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/37092-writers-and-readers

This title has had a couple of lovely reviews, firstly from Goodreads member Mark, and next by Goodreads Aussie readers moderator Brenda Telford.

‘Encore’ is an anthology of mostly romantic vignettes and Short Stories. The first, ‘Annie’s Story’, has been very well liked by both reviewers.

Another Review: Reflections of Life and Love in Australia

It’s been a while since my fourth collection in the ‘Life and Love in Australia’ series was first published, and now I’m delighted to announce its first review, written by Goodreads member, Mark, from the U.S.A. Here it is:

“Reflections” is a collection aptly named, for emotions playing lambent on the water of the spirit, for a mirror held up to fraught relationships, mostly of couples, and for the thoughts to which they all give rise in the reader… and the reviewer. Sharp has a particular knack for exploring and sorting out the unnecessarily complex entanglements of humans in orbit about one another. Among the best offerings here are “And the Rains Came,” about the pretext for a railway “connection” that opens up when the skies do; “Letting Her Go,” about a mother’s ultimate, pained acceptance of her daughter’s romantic autonomy; and “The Bonds of Love,” which has nothing at all to do with bondage, and everything to do with serendipity and reconciliation. Five stars.

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This volume contains twenty-eight vignettes and Short Stories, mostly on themes of love and romance. Currently it’s available in paperback only, but  hopefully next year it will be also published on Kindle.

http://www.amazon.com/Reflections-Australia-Margaret-Lynette-Sharp/dp/1466319240

Reviews from Goodreads: A Taste of Life and Love in Australia

As many followers are aware,  so far there are six self published books bearing my name as author, and my Sydney Opera House organ builder husband Ronald Sharp as editor. Of these, the most reviewed by far has been my second, ‘A Taste of Life and Love in Australia’.

‘A Taste…’ is a collection of heartwarming vignettes and short stories: the sort that is written to please those from early adulthood right through to mature years. Readers from twenties to nineties have been warm in their praise of this, my particular favourite in the four volume ‘Life and Love in Australia’ series.

So today, prompted by the social book network Goodreads, I offer a selection of reviews from their site. I hope you will take the time to read and consider these snippets.

By Jenny(Australia) · ★★★★★ · August 11, 2012

“A Taste of Life and Love in Australia” by Margaret Lynette Sharp is a collection of gentle, heartwarming stories that quietly reflect on life.There is an effective simplicity to Margaret’s writing that means she, as author, doesn’t get in the way of her characters connecting with readers. Lines… …more

By Shelleyrae(Taree, 02, Australia) · ★★★★☆ · July 25, 2012

While grounded in an Australian setting with descriptions of familiar antipodean landscapes, A Taste of Life and Love explores the universal themes of love, desire and marriage.While I think most of the tales within this collection are perhaps more properly vignettes or scenes rather than short… …more

By Mark(The United States) · ★★★★★ · June 09, 2012

Lovely, spare, melodic prose that simply exudes warmth, and simple, pinpoint-focussed stories, with nothing extraneous to distract from the single, clear feeling that Sharp wants to evoke — sometimes a feeling of wistful loss, at others one of ironic, happy bemusement or unexpected contentment,… …more

By Margaret(Sydney, 02, Australia) · ★★★★★ · March 18, 2012

This is my favourite volume in the series, since it contains a diverse selection of engaging, human, short stories. Written to be enjoyed by young and older adults, it sheds light on various aspects of human nature and relationships.
Not all the stories end happily, but alas! this is so in real l… …more

Jul 16, 2012

Jeanette rated it

A Taste of Life and Love in Australia was a great read. I read it at night when all was quite. Story after story I felt as if I was there, especially at the beautiful beach scenes. I appreciate such a book after having to endure a busy day. Margaret Sharp did an outstanding job in describing the outdoors in Australia.

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http://www.amazon.com/A-Taste-Life-Love-Australia/dp/1461064724

Q@A on Goodreads: Long and Short Australian Stories

Hands up who likes Short Stories!

These days of rush, and time-poor readers, has probably led to an increase in readership of this genre. That’s my theory, anyway.

Now, I like Short Stories. I like them for several reasons; their brevity, their punch, their relative simplicity.

Some  Short Stories have a reputation for leaving readers up in the air. Recently, a friend complained to me that she didn’t really enjoy them much, for that reason.

Well, this is where mine differ from the norm. With few, if any, exceptions, my Short Stories provide at least a degree of resolution. Sometimes, a tale is continued at the end of the volume; as in the case of my ‘life and love’ series.

But not this time, in ‘Long and Short Australian Stories’. This volume aims to invoke a greater depth of character and events by generally containing longer, more complex stories. Sure, they’re still a quick and easy read, but this time I’ve experimented a little to see how these gel with readers.

To help identify the credentials of ‘Long and Short Australian Stories’, I’ve set up a Q@A on the topic at Goodreads, ending in about four weeks. Why not join with other writers who have offered to provide their input, and help this Australian women writer along?