2-line bio:

Sharon Skinner holds a BA in English, an MA in Creative Writing and is a Certified Book Coach and freelance editor, who helps writers weave their words into stories that shine. Skinner also serves as the Regional Advisor for SCBWI Arizona, a division of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Short Bio:

Sharon Skinner holds a BA in English, an MA in Creative Writing and is a Certified Book Coach and freelance editor, who helps writers weave their words into stories that shine. She mainly writes fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and the occasional steampunk, for audiences of all ages. Skinner is an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and serves as the Regional Advisor for SCBWI AZ. She also served aboard the USS Jason, the first US Navy vessel to take women to sea (WestPac cruise). But that’s another story. To learn more, visit sharonskinner.com or bookcoachingbysharon.com

Medium Bio:

Sharon Skinner holds a GPC, a BA in English, an MA in Creative Writing and is a Certified Book Coach and freelance editor, whose goal is to help writers weave their words into stories that shine. She mainly writes fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and the occasional steampunk, for audiences of all ages. Skinner is an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and serves as the Regional Advisor for SCBWI AZ. Her Young Adult and Middle-Grade novels tend to explore complex relationships, particularly those between mothers and daughters. She also served aboard the USS Jason, the first US Navy vessel to take women to sea (WestPac cruise). But that’s another story. To learn more, visit sharonskinner.com or bookcoachingbysharon.com or contact her direct at Sharon@brickcavebooks.com

Long Bio:

Sharon Skinner holds a GPC, a BA in English, an MA in Creative Writing and is a Certified Book Coach and freelance editor, whose goal is to help writers weave their words into stories that shine. She mainly writes fantasy, science fiction and paranormal for audiences of all ages. Skinner is an active member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and serves as the Regional Advisor for SCBWI AZ.

Skinner is an experienced and sought after workshop facilitator and presenter, who has been engaged to teach and present at the Arizona State University Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, the San Diego State University Writers Conference, Tucson Festival of Books, and numerous Pop Culture Conventions throughout the US. Skinner has served as the Arizona State Library Writer in Residence for Scottsdale Library (2017), Mesa Library (2018) and Tempe Library (2019).

Skinner is a proud US Navy veteran, and one of the first women who served aboard a US Navy vessel, the USS Jason (AR-8). In October 1980, Skinner was among the crew of approximately 800 men and 45 women when the Jason and her crew deployed for a six-month WestPac cruise in support of troops for the Iran hostage crisis. After a month-long stop in Yokosuka, Japan, and a short stop in Subic Bay, Philippines, the Jason entered the Indian Ocean where the ship was tailed by a Russian submarine.

After leaving the military, Skinner repaired laboratory and hospital equipment, then worked as a warehouse production manager, telephone sales representative, professional trainer, visual information systems coordinator, and consultant. During those years, she completed her secondary education. After which, she went on to graduate school, earning a Master’s Degree in creative writing from Prescott College.

Her writing skills and passion for service led her to the world of grants development where she was nominated and elected to two terms on the Grant Professional Association’s National Board of Directors, serving as Secretary for two years, Vice President for a year, and then President. She was also the acting CEO of the organization in 2014. She continues to teach and present on grant-related topics ranging from proposal development to grants management. One of her most popular grant development workshops, The Narrative Thread in Your Grant Proposal: How to Tell a Compelling Story Without Making Things Up, combines her knowledge of grant development and fiction with a dash of humor. She currently serves as the Grants Coordinator for the City of Mesa, Arizona.

Skinner grew up in a small town in northern California where she spent her time reading books, making up plays and choreographing her own musicals (when she wasn’t busy climbing trees and playing baseball.) She’s been writing stories since the fourth grade, filling page after page with fantastical creatures, aliens, monsters and, of course, heroes.

She writes speculative fiction across all age categories from PB to adult. Her Young Adult and Middle-Grade novels tend to explore complex relationships, particularly those between mothers and daughters.

Still a voracious and eclectic reader, Skinner also loves drawing, arts and crafts, sewing, and costume-making (especially steampunk). Her guiltiest pleasure is online gaming, and her biggest weakness is home-made, double-dark chocolate fudge. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three annoying but lovable cats. More information can be found at www.sharonskinner.com or contact her direct at sharon@sharonskinner.com

Speaker Introduction:

“Sharon Skinner is an accomplished presenter with over seventeen years of experience in workshop facilitation. She has presented on a variety of writing topics, from grant proposal development to all aspects of fiction writing, including how to effectively present and discuss books with the public and engage potential readers. She has taught at the ASU Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and the San Diego State Writer’s Conference, and has been a presenter for well-known literary organizations such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Romance Writers of America. She appears regularly at events such as Phoenix Comicon, Tucson Festival of Books, and San Francisco Comic-Con, as well as many other book related events and pop-culture conventions across the U.S.

“Her Young Adult and Middle-Grade novels tend to explore complex relationships, particularly those between mothers and daughters. Her most recent YA novel, Collars & Curses, is an Urban Fantasy that tells the story of a teenage shapeshifter, who both literally and figuratively doesn’t fit into her own skin and is attempting to figure out where she fits in the wider world. Her debut picture book, Rocket Shoes! is “a rhyming story for every kid who wants to fly—and wonders when it’s okay to break the rules.”

“Let’s give a warm welcome to Sharon Skinner.”

5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Me:

1. I once helped make a giant monster movie called Sacrifice.
2. I used to own and ride my own Harley Davidson motorcycle.
3. I’ve tried on a lot of different jobs, including babysitter, fruit cutter, landscaper, maid, sales clerk, sign painter, grocery store stocker, cashier, fast food slinger, waitress, service station attendant, telemarketer, radio advertising voice, and project manager.
4. My husband and I ran a coffee shop, Anthology Café, focused on supporting spokenword, open mics and poetry slams.
5. I tried out for the school swim team and failed miserably.