Twenty-eight-year-old Emma Browning has experienced a good deal of life in her young age. Proprietor of Emma s Boardinghouse, she is mother to an array of beefy, unkempt, often rowdy characters. Though many men would like to get to know the steely, hard-edged, yet surprisingly lovely proprietor, none has truly succeeded. That is, not until the town s new pastor, Jonathan Atkins, takes up residence in the boardinghouse, affecting not only her with his devout faith and strong convictions, but her clientele as well. Emma clings desperately to her stubborn ways, refusing to acknowledge God s love until all of Little Hickman witnesses a miracle the conversion of her abusive and alcoholic father, Ezra! Only then will Emma begin to experience God s transforming power at work.
After 31 years of teaching second and fourth grades, Shar decided to say, "Bye-bye, Students!" and "Hello, Writing World!" and it's been an interesting, exciting, challenging, and inspiring adventure. One thing she knows for certain--God dropped a seed of passion for writing in her heart back in the summer of 2000, and He's been growing it ever since. (Who else in her right mind would jump out of bed in the middle of the night just to run to the computer and finish a scene that all of a sudden comes together in her head?)
Shar started her publishing career with Whitaker House in December of 2006 when she launched the release of "Through Every Storm", a general fiction title that finaled in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book-of-the-Year in 2007. On the wings of that, came her first three-book historical set called "The Little Hickman Creek Series" with an 1895-96 Kentucky setting. As a result of that series, Shar won the "Road to Romance" Reviewers' Choice Award in 2007 and 2008. and also picked up a third place award in the "Inspirational Readers' Choice Contest" in both 2008 and 2009.
In the fall of 2008, Whitaker House released a stand-alone contemporary titled "Long Journey Home", and in January of '09 launched her 3-book historical series, "The Daughters of Jacob Kane". Especially exciting to Shar about this series is its 1904-1908 West Michigan setting. Watch for titles: "Hannah Grace", "Maggie Rose", and "Abbie Ann", all available at Amazon.com or in most Christian bookstores near you! In the years 2008, 2009, and 2010 Shar was awarded second and third place standings in the "Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest".
Also made available in 2009 are the SPANISH Editions of "Long Journey Home" ("Un Largo Camino a Casa") and "Through Every Storm" ("En Medio De La Tormenta"). Please check these out through Amazon. You'll discover them when you locate all Shar's other titles. Beginning in September 2010, "Tender Vow" hit shelves, and in 2011, the three-book series, River of Hope, launched with its first title, "Livvie's Song".
Shar has had numerous speaking engagements, countrywide book-signings, television and radio appearances, and countless interviews. She has been married to the love of her life since December 1975 and together they enjoy their two daughters, sons-in-law, and beautiful grandchildren.
Besides her involvement at Spring Lake Wesleyan Church, Shar has been a speaker for the local MOPS organization, has enjoyed involvement in KIDS' HOPE, USA, a mentoring program for at-risk children, counsels young women in the APPLES OF GOLD program, and attends two bi-weekly Bible studies.
She and her darling husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan with Peyton, their lovable, sometimes naughty, collie, and Mocha, their lazy cat.
