McKay, Sharon E.
Biography
Sharon Mckay recently toured Afghanistan as the first children's author ever sent into a war zone by Canada's War Artists program."The motivation for my writing is to bring difficult subjects from around the world home to Canada. I do not believe in writing what I know but in writing what I want to know. To that end all my research is done first hand and on the ground." For example, her research for War Brothers included interviews with child soldiers in Uganda.
Sharon has been married for 35 years and has two grown sons. She lives in a log house with a standard poodle named Phoebe.
Awards & Recognitions
Sydney Taylor Book Award, U.S. Notable Children’s Book of Jewish Content. Association of Jewish Libraries. 2004. (Esther)
Hamilton Literary Award. 2004. (Charlie Wilcox’s Great War)
IBBY, International Board on Books for Young People, Honour List, 2002.
Presented biennially in Switzerland. (Charlie Wilcox)
IODE, National Chapter of Canada, Violet Downey Book Award. 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)
Geoffery Bilson Award for Historical Fiction. 2001. (Charlie Wilcox)
UNESCO International Youth Library - White Raven Award, Europe. 2002 (Charlie Wilcox)
Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Awards, Atlantic Provinces. 2002. (Charlie Wilcox)
National Magazine Award. Shortlist, Cottage Life, l999.
Parent’s Choice Award, three gold, two silver (U.S.)
Toy Testing Council of Canada, 4 books - 4 stars each.
Silver Birch Award, nomination. Take a Hike, Scholastic. 1996.
U.S. Library Association Award, l994, l995.
Arthur Ellis Award, 2009. Best in crime fiction, (War Brothers)
Other Information
Related Websites or Blogs
Sharon McKay travels to Afghanistan as part of military's War Artists program
Published Work
2012. Enemy Territory. Toronto: Annick Press. (Fiction)
2010.Thunder Over Kandahar. Toronto: Annick Press. (Fiction)
2008. War Brothers. Totonto: Penguin Canada. (Fiction)
2008. Good to go : a practical guide to adulthood. Toronto : Penguin Canada (Non-fiction).
2004. Penelope : Christmas reunion. Toronto : Penguin Canada (Non-fiction).
2004. Esther. Toronto : Penguin Canada (Fiction)
2003. Penelope : an Irish Penny. Toronto : Penguin Canada (Children's).
2003. Charlie Wilcox's Great War. Toronto : Penguin Canada (Fiction)
2002. The glass castle. Toronto : Penguin Canada (Children's).
2001. Terror in the harbour : Penelope. Toronto : Penguin (Children's).
1990. The new parent survival handbook. Toronto : Macmillan of Canada (Non-fiction).
1988. The new child safety handbook. Toronto : Macmillan of Canada (Non-fiction)
