Sharon McGuinness – October 7 2018

World Mental Health Day – October 10

Sharon is a part-time primary school teacher-librarian, formerly a public library assistant and librarian. She worked in retail and as a ‘strapper’ at the horse races while studying at university and teacher’s college. Sharon has been involved with writing, reading and children’s literacy for many years and writes picture books and junior novels for children. Having written her first ‘chapter book’ in Year 6 for a school assignment, she has been writing ever since. Her first short story, Waiting for Rain, was inspired by the effect of drought on her brother’s thoroughbred horse stud and was published in the NSW School Magazine in 2008. Sharon’s late husband suffered from clinical depression for most of his adult life. She wrote Coming Home, about a little girl trying to understand her father’s depressive illness, because this was what she and her two children were coping with. The book is endorsed by, and author royalties go to, the Black Dog Institute. It is also a Family Therapists Australia recommended title.

Coming Home – Illustrated by Shannon Melville
Wombat Books, 2012; ISBN 9781921633775
Picture book
‘I wonder if it’s dark and lonely in that other place …’ Gemma watches her dad as he sits alone in his tangled garden. She doesn’t understand why he seems so sad. Can she help her dad find his way home?
One in five people will suffer a depressive illness in their lifetime. The causes are many and treatment depends on the cause or type of depression experienced. The illness also affects the families of those who suffer from depression. It is often difficult for children in particular to understand why a depressed parent may be sad and distant. In Coming Home, no cause is given for the depression experienced by Gemma’s dad. For those experiencing depression, what is important for their recovery is support.

Try! – Illustrated by Tom Jellet
Sharon McGuinness, 2012; ebook
Available at http://mrsmacsbooks.weebly.com
6-8 years
Jesse is a keen rugby league fan and is desperate to play with his local team. His mum thinks he is too small, but Jesse is persistent. When Jesse turns up at his first training session, he realises he has another problem. Will he overcome it and be able to play? Try! was originally published as a short story in the June 2010 ‘Countdown’ issue of the NSW School Magazine and later developed into a longer version to fill a gap in chapter books about rugby league suitable for younger children.