Sharon Kayne

Genre:

Historical Romance, Romantasy, Humor

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Bio

I knew I was a writer when I was six years old, even though my spelling was atrocious at the time. Over the years I have improved my spelling while working in journalism—as a freelancer, TV news producer, and award-winning humor columnist and managing editor for an alternative weekly magazine. I also worked in theatre (behind the scenes), and my dialog and lyrics have been performed on stage and in night clubs. After several years in journalism (which pays poorly) and theatre (which pays not at all), I decided to go where the money was: the world of nonprofits. I was the communications director for a nonprofit advocacy organization for eighteen years, during which time I wrote hundreds of op-eds and blogs, most of which were published under other people’s names. I wrote more press releases than should be required from a mere mortal. Still, I’d have happily kept to my non-fiction/persuasive genre, but I was given the opportunity to take a three-month sabbatical in 2022. Though I was keen to laze about the house and read novels written by other people, I had this nagging sense that I should accomplish something: My first novel was born. Having been a life-long devotee of romance in all its forms (literature, film, song, and stage), that’s, naturally, what I wrote. I’ve also had an interest in history—particularly as it relates to women’s clothing and rights (or lack thereof)—so I wrote a historic romance with feminist undertones. My heroines are strong, and my heroes are wonderfully empathetic. As if having been bitten by a novel bug, I wrote three more manuscripts in fairly quick succession. I almost immediately found that the writing of the novel is so much easier than the selling of the novel. After a long and unsuccessful hunt for an agent, I turned to self-publishing. I have a BA in Theatre from Arizona State University. I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with my husband and our two cats.

Books

Title: This Restless Sea
Published: May 2025
Genre: Historical Romance

Kate Palmer wants to pursue a career as a poet. As society life in Philadelphia—not to mention the expectations of marriage and motherhood—strictly limits her independence, Kate has taken a job as a schoolmarm in the Oklahoma territory. While she embraces her new freedom to write, her chosen life presents more difficulties than she’d anticipated. Primary among them is an abrasive relationship with Thomas Newhall, the man who hired her. Thomas, a still-grieving widower with two school-age children, finds Kate both extremely attractive and surprisingly prickly as she has the audacity to stand up for herself and her ideals.

Their verbal skirmishes notwithstanding, Kate’s biggest challenge comes when a tornado destroys her little cottage, unexpectedly twisting their lives together as Kate is obliged to move into the Newhall family home. When Thomas declares his love for her, Kate must face her own feelings for him and decide if she can remain true to her dreams while accepting the fulfillment that comes with love.

This clean (no sex) enemies-to-lovers romance with feminist undercurrents is set in the American West in the late 19th century. For readers who enjoy the tales of Sarah M. Eden, Rachel Fordham, and Cat Cahill.

Available for Sale

Amazon

Awards:

First Place (brochure), National Federation of Press Women, 2008
Best New Song (lyrics), New Mexico Music Association, 2005
Third Place (personal column, humorous), National Federation of Press Women, 2004
First Place (personal column, humorous), New Mexico Press Women, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000
First Place (personality profile), New Mexico Press Women, 2004
First Place (section edited by entrant), New Mexico Press Women, 2002
First Place (single page edited by entrant), New Mexico Press Women, 2002, 2001