Interview with author Sharon Giltrow

[ 0 ] 18/11/2020 | liza

I got to meet Sharon Giltrow in a Facebook group we have formed with children’s book writers who have their book debut in 2020. Sharon is an extremely talented writer, and her book Bedtime Daddy, illustrated by Katrin Dreiling, is a super funny bedtime story where the roles are reversed; the little one tries to put Daddy to bed! It was published in May 2020 by EK books.

Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, WA with her husband, two children, and a tiny dog. In 2019 she was awarded the Paper Bird Fellowship and when not writing, she works with children with Developmental Language Disorder.

How would you describe yourself in 10 words?
Sorry, I can only think of two words, Comedy gold… a little family joke one of my reviews described my book as Comedy Gold. Seriously though Persistent, Kind, Caring, Funny, Creative, Determined, Outgoing, Social, Modest, Inquisitive.

How did you get started with writing your first book?
My first manuscript I wrote when my daughter was a baby and I was awake a lot at night and my imagination was able to run free. My first published book BEDTIME, DADDY! I started writing in 2017. The idea was sparked when my husband was putting to bed my then eight-year-old son and my husband said that he wanted to go to bed instead. This inspired me to write a how to put a grown up to bed story. After many, many, many revisions and an offer to publish from EK Books my book BEDTIME, DADDY! was born.

What do you wish that children will take out of your book?
A love of reading and sharing of stories. Joy and laughter.

Can you tell me some of your strengths that really helped you in getting your book published?
Persistence would be a big one. Never giving up and believing that it can happen. Reaching out for help and considering feedback from critique partners.

What was your greatest failure and what did you learn from that?
Not reading my story out loud enough. Read it out loud a lot before you send it out. Even now when I read to an audience I can see things I would change.

Tell me about your proudest achievement.
My proudest achievement(s) would be my children and watching them grow and thrive in the world as their own unique people. My second proudest achievement would be my book baby BEDTIME, DADDY, and seeing that grow and thrive around the world.

Who do you admire most and why?
My parents. Firstly for having eight children, secondly for giving each of those children a love for learning, travel and other people and lastly for treating each of us equally.

If you could travel back in time and give advice to your teenage self what would that be?
Follow your dream and never give up. If you can imagine it, it can happen. Keep all of your books and the stories that you wrote.

If you could know the absolute and total truth to one question, what question would you ask?
What is my true purpose in life?

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
Reading the word ‘poop’ in front of my year one class. The word ‘poop’ appears in my book. The children thought it was hilarious that an adult would say that. Their laughter made me laugh.

How can we introduce the love of reading to our youth?
From the very beginning when they are babies read to them every night. Let them see you reading, read books in front of them and leave books around the house.

What would you advise young kids and teenagers who love books and would like to publish their own?
Don’t worry so much about the publishing part but work on and enjoy the writing. Write lots and lots of stories, keep them all and look back at them. Also, read lots and lots of books :-).

What is your vision? Where do you see yourself in 5, 10 years from now?
In five years to be writing full time. In ten years to have ten books published and to start my own little library for my grandchildren :-).

How can the readers get in touch with you and where can they find your book?
Readers can find me on:
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
Website

My book is available for purchase via the publisher EK Books and all major online retailers.