Y/A writer and Canadian War Artist, Afghanistan, 2009.I have written more than twenty books (but who is counting) and live in a log house in a village near Burlington, Ontario. Other members of the household include one husband and a giant standard poodle named Phoebe. Sam, son number one, is a technical theatre director and Joe, son number two, is a student at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. Sam and his amazingly beautiful partner Laurel, have a totally terrific son named Kai. That makes Sharon a grandmother. Sharon sneaks Kai fruit rolls-up whenever Laurel and Sam are not looking.

I am also a Canadian War Artist, the first young adult writer to be included in this very old program that began in l916, during WW1. Historically most war artists are painters and include A.Y. Jackson, Alex Colville and Gertrude Kearns. Today war artists can be playwrights, photographers and poets. While few (any?) war artists are pro-war, most are pro-soldier. There is difference!

“In March of 2009 I was in a forward operation base (FOB) in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. I did get out on a foot patrol. I wasn’t afraid. I was hot.”
To find out more about the war artist program go to: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/index-eng.asp and or search CF Artist Program. (CFAP)
War Brothers was written in Northern Uganda. I interviewed child soldiers for the book. All of the information I use is gathered first hand. Kids cannot go to dangerous countries but I can, and I do. We all need to know about the lives of children in far-flung places. If we don’t know, how can we care?

Just the facts:
Back in the day my favorite book was Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl. I was very young when I read it and did not know about the Holocaust. I was upset with the ending and wanted to write to the author and complain! Da! Now I am a graduate of Yad Vashem (Holocaust education) in Israel and have written three books on Holocaust Survivors with my amazing friend, gifted author Kathy Kacer. The books are called Whispers from the Ghettos, Whispers from the Camps and Whispers from Hiding.”

My favorite author was Enid Blyton (1897 – 1968) She has sold over 600 million copies and is the fifth most translated author in the world.
Current Project

I am now working on a book called Thunder Over Kandahar (Annick, 2010.) The book is about two girls trying to escape Afghanistan. I can be reached at www.sharonmckay.ca or dmcmac111@aol.com