Sharon Biggs Waller is the Friends of American Writers award winning author of the critically acclaimed young adult novels The Forbidden Orchid, A Mad, Wicked Folly, and Girls on the Verge. She writes for magazines about horses, chickens, and farming, and she’s a co-author of The Original Horse Bible. Previously, she worked as a riding instructor at the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace and as a national park ranger at Indiana Dunes National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Cabrillo National Monument. In addition to writing, she is a dressage rider and trainer, a fiber artist, and a Planned Parenthood clinic escort. She lives on a 10-acre sustainable hobby farm in a ghost town in Northwest Indiana with her husband Mark, two horses, ten dairy goats, four cats, three dogs, ten laying hens, and a gaggle of geese.
Hello Sharon,
I have recently finished your book A Mad Wicked Folly and I loved it. I am a young aspiring writer and I was just fascinated by the way Vicky’s emotions bounced along every page as I read, and by the end of the book I felt sad because I realized that I had started to think of Vicky as a close friend of mine. I fell head over heels in love with Will and I was jumping up and down by the end of the book. I was wondering if maybe you could pass on some tips to myself as a young writer, I would be grateful for any advice. I am very glad that I came across this book though and I am recommending it to all of my friends. I am looking forward to turning the pages of your books in the future.
~Kiley
Hi Kiley,
Thank you so much for making my day! I’m so pleased you loved the book. I really love hearing from readers, it’s one of my favorite things. I would be happy to give you some tips. Go ahead and fill out the form on the Contact Me page and we’ll go from there. Also if you like I can send you some signed swag.
Best,
Sharon
Hi Kiley! Thanks so much for your kind words about FOLLY! I’d be happy to answer some questions for you. Go ahead and send me an email through my Contact Me form.
Best,
Sharon
Hi, I’m in middle school and I’m doing a presentation on your book, “A Mad Wicked Folly” and I have some questions that I haven’t been able to find. We have to answer when and where the author was born and the area of study. If you could get back to me as soon as you could, that’d be great!
Thanks, have a great day!
Hi Angella! So nice to hear from you. Go ahead and email me at shazwriter@me.com with any questions and I’ll do my best to answer them for you. Sharon
hi sharon, this is Holly. i really miss tullie( is that how u spell her name?) i am so close to finishing “A Mad Wicked Folly” i told my english teacher that i knew you and she now wants to read the book! or books. once i finish the book i am going to lend it to her. i hope i see you and tullie and drifter again! when i get old enough to ride on a plane by myself i will come and see everyone! tell you mom i said hi! this is my first time finding your bio. grandma/pat just got out of the pool. anyways miss you and give tulie a kiss on the nose for me. my first time riding a horse was so much fun! i want to learn and their is a barn near us and i want to see if grandma will let me take lessons. have a nice day!
Hey Mrs. Waller! I absolutely loved A Mad, Wicked Folly. I love it so much I’ve read it about twenty times. I don’t have any questions for you though. I just love your novel!
I loved your novel Por amor al arte, but I didn’t like the translation to Spanish, there is one word “mecachis” that maybe and only maybe it’s used by kids. And it’s repeated so many times.
I can’t wait to read the next novel.
There’s is a secuense for your novels? Or you can read them in different order?
Thanks so much.
Hi Alicia,
Thank you for the kind words! Alas, I have nothing to do with the translation of my books. The foreign publisher arranges the translator. Also I don’t speak Spanish! 😊 I asked a friend in Puerto Rico about mecachis and she said in PR they say mechachindai. Maybe because the book is historical they chose an old term. I’m not sure. Have you read the English version?
My second book is out. It’s called The Forbidden Orchid and it is set in Victorian London. It’s also available in Spanish. My books aren’t in a series so you can read them out of order. Where are you from?
Again, thank for reaching out!
Hugs, Sharon
Looking forward to Girls on the Verge. I do have one question…how do you pick names for your characters? They always fit. Oh, and why haven’t you aged in the 20ish years I’ve known you? Love
Hi Teresa! Ha! First of all…good lighting. Professional photographer. Lies…all lies. : )
Character names come about for various reasons. Either I like them, Camille in Girls on the Verge, for instance. Or they fit the storyline. Vicky in A Mad, Wicked Folly was named for Queen Victoria, who was against suffrage. Vicky was a new version of that name to show how women have changed. Elodie in The Forbidden Orchid was named after a flower. Her name means several things but one meaning is wildflower. I thought that suited her perfectly.
Other characters are named because I like the names I find or because they fit the time.
Hello fellow murderino!! I just heard your minisode on MFM and went to check out your book but THEN found out that you write young adult Edwardian fiction AND ride dressage! Love it! I’m a HS English teacher and part time dressage enthusiast with my OTTB somour interests somewhat intersect. Looking forward to reading your worK!
Hi April! So nice to hear from you. Love OTTBs. I’ve had one myself and trained several in the past.
Hello Mrs. Waller,
I just finished your book “Girls on the verge” and out of all the other books that I’ve read, this one is my absolute favorite. I have a couple questions about the end of the book. And I wish that there was another book coming out because I would love to read it. I could relate to your book in so many way, not having the procedure done or anything but everything else. Is there another book that you would recommend me reading?
Hi Mykeala,
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the book, and I’m so honored! I’m happy to answer any questions you have. In regards to book recommendations, I really liked EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR by E.K. Johnston and THE WAY I USED TO BE by Amber Smith. I also have two other books out, which are historical fiction. You can read the first chapters on the Books page.
I am definitely not a young adult…just at heart. I picked up The Forbidden Orchid a while ago at a book sale not knowing anything about you or the book. With the current world conditions and in my self-isolation I finally picked it up. Your book has been the perfect voyage I needed during this current bumpy ride in life. I enjoyed meeting all of your characters and the beautiful way you allowed me to experience flowers that I am now craving to discover. Thank you for the journey and for sharing your gift with the world.
Thank you, Shannon. That is so kind of you to say. ❤️