Happy Birthday, Ron! 90 years young!

Margaret's Classic Posts

Today we celebrate the birthday of my husband Ronald William Sharp, the creator of the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Born in suburban Sydney on the 8th August, 1929, Ron attributes his long life to his love of classical music, and to his habit of keeping his mind active. He is keenly interested in gravity, and in recent times has published a book entitled ‘Gravity, Time and Consciousness.,’ which has been praised by Amazon reviewers.

These photos were taken just minutes ago.

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It’s official: My husband is a genius.

It’s official: I share my life with a genius.

In saying this, I suppose you can accuse me of trumpet-blowing. Nonetheless, I’ll continue.

When my eyes fell on the large-text sub-heading in The Sydney Morning Herald last Thursday that re-iterated this announcement, a mixture of emotions overtook me. Pride and respect figured prominently; because I’m only human. I’m more than happy to be the wife of such a man; Ron, my husband.

It seems not so well recognized; the mind-boggling fact that Ron is, in fact, self taught. To me at least, it’s almost incomprehensible that the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall could be created by someone without formal qualifications; someone who had read up on Organ Building in the Mitchell Library, and set to work making these instruments.  Ultimately, he was chosen to bring the magnificent idea of this huge Grand Organ into fruition. Yes,  it’s true!

But then, this isn’t the end of Ron’s amazing abilities. Who else could design and make his own glider, at home, again without formal qualifications? And, in due course, get into it and fly like an eagle for two hours, a mile above the ground.

And so, with all this in mind, I’m more than honoured that he has encouraged my writing in no small way; even editing the volumes and creating the covers. Aren’t I lucky?

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Calling all Fans of Ron Sharp!

Calling all fans of Ronald Sharp, the creator of the Sydney Opera House’s Grand Organ!

Are you aware that he alone edited my five published volumes, in his own distinctive way?

Speaking just a few days ago, he likened it to pauses in music, aiding in our understanding of what is happening.

Have I aroused your interest? Then, why not check out a book or two. Simply Google and type in my full name. Once you’ve found an Amazon.com site, just click to look inside. Who knows, you might even be tempted to buy!

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Australian Author Margaret Lynette Sharp: Which Book Am I Proud Of?

As an Australian author with a total of five books published, I’ve been asked this question.  Which of your books are you most proud?

This is a tough one.  It’s akin to asking, “Which is your favourite child?”

I guess you could liken my first four to quadruplets, since they’re four of a kind. Even their names are closely linked.  ’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, you guessed it, ‘Reflections of Life and Love in Australia.’  These volumes are dominated by romances, though some are interspersed with tales of human interest.  They’re quite short, averaging just four or five pages, flowing,and easy to comprehend.

My latest creation, ’60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences’ is currently an ‘only child’, of sorts.  Will it remain so?  Who knows?

All five volumes are edited by my husband, Ronald Sharp, the creator of the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House.  His creative influence has touched all these books through his innovative style.

Back to the question.

I’m proud of them all, since within each there are stand-out favourites that show my own characteristic style to best advantage.

But, if pressed for an answer, I’ ll say the last.

Why?

Because ’60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences’ makes me smile!

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Australian Author: Margaret Lynette Sharp

I’ve just read an outline of the life of Australian Author John O’ Grady. It seems that, after facing rejection by a well-known publisher, ‘They’re a Weird Mob’ went on to sell a million copies!

What’s the moral of this? That literature can be hard to judge? That striking the right note with readers can snowball to infinite heights? That what fails in the eyes of experts can still succeed magnificently?

Like John O’ Grady, I’m an Australian author, and some of my work is humorous, but there the similarities wane. He went on to fame, becoming a household name, or at least his pseudonym did!

In contrast, I’m little-known outside my circle, and a woman.

Still, with five published books, and many encouraging comments, who knows what the future may hold?

Did my husband Ron know he was destined to build the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House? And self-taught, too!

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Review: The Essence of Life and Love in Australia

This, the third in my ‘life and love’ series, follows in a similar vein to its predecessors in that it’s easy, light yet reflective, and since each short story is quick to digest, ideal for time-poor readers.

Take, for example, ‘Language of Love’. Warren, a young, naive guy with a penchant for putting his foot in his mouth, has fallen for Linda, a gorgeous, sophisticated French-language student. His task is to attract her attention, and get into her good graces. Can he succeed?

Another stand-out story is ‘My Daughter, Sally.’ Written from the point of view of the father, this relates episodes whereby a very young woman encounters some harsh realities of life and love.

Readers may also relate to ‘At Seventeen’, another scenario. Is it love or infatuation that Marianne feels?

If you’re looking for a fresh book of modern, Australian Short Stories that’s suitable for those of diverse ages and backgrounds, and like to recognise and encourage new writers, why not take a look at ‘The Essence of Life and Love in Australia’?  Edited by my husband  Ronald Sharp, the creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, it’s available through Amazon.com.

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Review: 25 Stories of Life and Love in Australia

I suppose a book review written by its author is apt to attract a very healthy degree of scepticism, yet who knows its contents more intimately?

If you haven’t already rejected my thoughts as useless, I promise to faithfully deliver the comments of others, as well as my own.

To begin, let me say that  ’25 Stories…’ is my first book, started in September 2010 and published early this year. It’s been edited by my husband, Ronald Sharp, the creator of the Grand Organ in the Sydney Opera House, and his enthusiasm was instrumental in bringing this, and all my books, about.

One reader described it on its Amazon site as “hard to put down”; further, his wife and himself were both  “enthralled by its content and style”.

By word of mouth, I’ve been told it’s “great” by one man, and that she “couldn’t put it down” by another reader. Several people who’ve finished this book have purchased subsequent volumes. It also seems to be finding favour at  local libraries.

Like all my collections of Short Stories, this is dominated by tales of love and romance, although several human interest stories  are interspersed. “Family Values”, about a child’s visit to see his grandparents who live in the country, and “New Digs”, relating a senior’s dilemma over moving home, have both been praised, but my feeling is that  “The Virgin Dancer” is by far the most moving. This very succinctly  tells the story of a middle-aged woman who has been held back in life, never able to live the “fuller, freer life” she wanted. Suddenly, circumstances contrive to find her at last on the dance floor, and able to be like everyone else, and dance.

“A Question of Trust”, which describes the scene where the rose-coloured glasses are abruptly removed from a rather naive young woman, and “Fresh Pickings”, the tale of young passion set against an ambitious family background, rank amongst the most striking love stories.

As in all my Short Story collections, the last story is  in fact a continuation of the first, with the elapse of many years.

If my review has whetted your appetite, why not check out this book on the Amazon web-site, and use the ‘click here’ feature? If you like what you read, please, spread the word!

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Ronald Sharp and ’60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences’

At every chance, my husband likes to Ron talk about our newest book, ’60 Questions, Insights and Reminiscences’, which will shortly become available through Amazon.com.

Many readers of this blog will know that Ron is the creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.

While he speaks with enthusiasm by phone, it’s the in-person encounters which provide him with the best opportunity to show what we’ve done. That’s one indisputable virtue of having a proof copy!

Yesterday’s meeting with a friend provided the perfect opportunity, and, happily, he responded with equal excitement, interest and positivity.

Although the words and ideas in ’60 Questions….’ are mine, Ron has magically enhanced their presentation by his skillful, innovative editing; not to mention his attractively designed, unusual cover with compliments those of our ‘Life and Love’ series of modern, Australian Short Stories.

If you’re reading this, please spread the word!

Thanks!

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It’d Never Have Happened, Without Ron

As I put the finishing touches on my fifth book, I take this opportunity to acknowledge the immense help, support and time that my husband Ronald Sharp B.E.M. has given me.

From the very beginning, Story One Book One, right through to the final pages of this, my fifth book, Ron has been involved. Not just with praise and enthusiasm for my writing, although he has been more than liberal with that. No: he has spend much time and effort in the editing, compilation, and setting up of the books. The resulting work mirrors his high standards of excellence in presentation; the same excellence that is evident in his Pipe-Organs.

If you ever hold a copy of any of these books in your hand, please remember the effort made by my husband, the creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, in bringing them into being.

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‘Reflections of Life and Love in Australia’ Published!

Any day now, and my fourth book of modern Australian Short Stories will be visible by the computer screen, on my Amazon.com pages.

Entitled, you guessed it, ‘Reflections of Life and Love in Australia’, this is another easy to read collection of mostly romantic tales, although this time, there are several interesting ones of  Human Interest variety.  ‘Hand in Hand’, the story of parental dilemma over sport versus musicianship, and ‘A Secret Banished’, about a grandma’s decision to improve her reading skills, are both to be found here.

The love stories are many, and delve into a variety of scenarios.  Most end happily, with the couples staying together; though, as in life, some situations end in disintegration.  All in all, there’s something for (almost ) anyone.

As Editor and collaborator, my husband Ronald Sharp B.E.M., the creator of the Grand Organ in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House,  has stamped his mark, spacing the words out in the same musically-inspired fashion that he employed in the three previous volumes. Throughout his reading, he’s constantly praising the quality of my writing.  I hope others share his opinion!

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