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Sharon Maria Bidwell
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A writer from the UK, Sharon doesn't get out much these days. She's too busy creating vibrant worlds and characters to share with others. She still writes darker stories (although feels her romances can be quite dark at times) but equally loves her current work, which allows her to work with the type of cross-genre writing she favours. She's called her website Aonia because in Greek myth that is where the muses lived, and she's delighted and grateful for each and every idea that comes to her. Her first short story submitted was accepted by the second publication to which she offered it. This was entitled "Silver Apples of the Moon", published by Roadworks Magazine. The editor quoted it as accepted due to having "both a Sci-fi and horror element, strong on characterisation, and quite literary, in terms of style". Editor, Trevor Denyer, said that it was a story that "had me gripped from start to finish" and as a result pronounced her as "a writer who is going places". Subsequently, she has been approached on occasion to write articles such as reports and publicity material, though her focus will always be story-telling. She loves writing, reading, movies, the theatre, her garden, and seeing other parts of the world but not the hassle of travelling to get there. She often thinks about moving but lives primarily in a world of her own, anyway. With over forty small publishing credits, her first novel receiving a favourable response, and several books now available, the muses have definitely found a home at aonia... When people ask me to explain my work, only one word springs to mind: Diverse. I've written fact and fiction in almost any genre. So far, I've been extremely lucky in that I have had the opportunity to do this, but I've also, often, had the pleasure of crossing genres. Thus, crime, horror, fantasy, action, adventure, fairy tales, gothic, erotica, romance, and slipstream, are themes I've use in any combination. Among others, my poems, articles and short stories have appeared in the following and forthcoming publications. Many have featured my work on more than one if not several occasions. I should like to take this opportunity to express my thanks for their interest, support, compliments, and enthusiasm. Loose-Id, Midnight Street, Roadworks, Aoife's Kiss - Sam's Dot Publishing, Aspen Mountain Press, Ascent, Gothic Fairy Tales, Whispers of Wickedness, Forbidden Fruit Zine, Dark Moon Rising, Legends Magazine, Gay Flash Fiction, Cleansheets, Mocha Memoirs, The Black Rose, Carillon, Authors Network, Epiphany Magazine, Storyteller UK, Spirit Wind, Wind City Times, Litport Echo, Bideford Buzz, The Crier (News and Community Diary), Real Gardeners. I also had the privilege to work on a very special project: Publicity articles and reports for The Really Wild Nursery & Arthritis Care SW "Breaking Down the Barriers" Garden Project, including the entry for the Malvern Spring Show Catalogue and a piece translated into Braille, placed at the entrance to the exhibit. |
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I should first like to thank my audience for all their love, support and well-wishes. I should also like to extend my gratitude to those who have taken a few moments of their day to contact me. To old and new friends, and friends I've yet to meet, your appreciation is always a surprise and a pleasure. Not so long ago I was asked a question -- to explain why I write. I replied that there's a simple answer to why writers write: because they have to. To some, it is simply like breathing. Deep down, I've never wanted to do anything else, but as well as an art form it is a process whereby you are constantly learning, improving, and ever seeking out new challenges. Most of us write at some stage in our lives -- whether it is the day-to-day record in a diary, a carefree note to a friend or even a necessary but unhappy letter of complaint. I believe the ability to read and write are our most basic and necessary skills. Reading and writing opens a door of discovery, access to knowledge, an ability to express ourselves, to communicate and educate. The purpose of storytelling is not solely one of entertainment, though pardon me for shocking anyone if I say I want to do that too! I grew up reading horror. I admit I was reading books for age-groups long before I should have done so but I'm grateful for it. Whenever the world around me let me down in an odd way those books kept me sane. They were pure escapism and at heart, I still just like to tell a good story. I think some stories can be life-altering but I see nothing wrong with just being entertained. Life can be wonderful; for all of us it can be hard. It can be miserable at times. It can be dull at best. Stories have never failed me. Ideas, opinions, glimpses into another way of life -- all these things and more can be expressed in even the most simple or the most outrageous of stories. Many writers have been visionaries. |
Current Releases
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Visit Sharon Maria Bidwell's website: http://www.sharonbidwell.co.uk |
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MySpace Britwriters Blog Loose Ends Blog (The official unofficial blog of Loose-Id authors) Loose-Id Aspen Mountain Press Changeling Press Night To Dawn Blog (interviewed by Barbara Custer) |
