Sharon L. Clark, Author

Tag: support independent authors

“I’ll Call You Mine” Wins First Place in International Firebird Book Awards

International Firebird Book Awards Celebrate Excellence in Writing with Purpose-Driven Mission

The International Firebird Book Awards celebrate outstanding authors and publishers globally, featuring a diverse range of genres. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of 29 judges, with each entry reviewed by two judges using consistent criteria. Only those with the highest scores win the prestigious Firebird Award, recognizing exceptional talent in the literary community.

One of the winning entries came from Iowa author Sharon L. Clark, whose book titled I’ll Call You Mine won 1st place in the Romantic Suspense category.

Participating in the Firebird Book Awards goes beyond just submitting an entry. Founder Patricia J. Rullo shares that your entry fee is a tax-deductible donation that supports women and children facing homelessness. It helps create cheerful, handmade pillowcases and provides inspiring books to shelters like Enchanted Makeovers. By entering, you’re not only aiming for recognition but also helping transform shelters into welcoming homes filled with warmth and joy. Every entry makes a positive impact!

The Firebird Book Awards, powered by Speak Up Talk Radio, celebrate creative talents and provide authors with opportunities to share their stories. They recognize outstanding books and podcasts and offer services such as author interviews, book reviews, audiobook production, book editing, formatting, and marketing to help authors succeed.

The Firebird Awards host quarterly contests, offering authors a chance to shine year-round. This inclusive competition welcomes all genres and accepts submissions from traditionally published, indie, and self-published writers.

To view past winners or learn how to enter an upcoming round, click HERE.

“I’ll Call You Home” Reviews – And a Chance to Win Free Stuff!

There are very few things that warm this author’s heart as thoroughly as a positive book review. After pouring my blood, sweat, and tears – not to mention the many hours and mirror pep talks – into this piece of literature, my soul craves just a little validation.

I cannot possibly be alone in this. 😅

Reader’s Favorite is a website that provides detailed, honest reviews written by authors for authors. I’ve submitted both of my books to them, and I’ll Call You Home received 5-Star reviews from all three authors who read my work!

That’s a bit of dopamine I’ll dine on for quite a while.


#1 Alma Boucher for Readers’ Favorite

In I’ll Call You Home by Sharon L. Clark, Charlotte receives a call informing her that her father has been injured and is in the hospital. Charlotte immediately flies back to her hometown of Zearing, Texas. Since her mother’s passing, Jason Archer has been her source of strength, though after graduation, he encouraged her to pursue her dreams in San Francisco. When Charlotte returns home, she learns the family ranch is in serious financial trouble and on the verge of being lost. A streak of misfortune has plagued the ranch, and Gerard Chancellor, who holds the mortgage, is pressuring them to sell. To make matters worse, a new horse breeder in the area has been poaching their clients. Determined to fight back, Jason teams up with Charlotte to find ways to save the ranch. As they work side by side, old feelings resurface, but can love and determination be enough to save it all?

I’ll Call You Home by Sharon L. Clark is a heartwarming and emotional story. It was filled with family drama, romance, love, and loss. The pace was steady, giving me time to take in every moment. The struggles of Charlotte and her family were suspenseful, keeping me on edge from beginning to end. I found it impossible to put the book down, eagerly turning each page to see what would happen next. Themes of family devotion, perseverance, second chances, and the redemptive power of love are beautifully woven throughout the story. The writing style was engaging, and I was drawn into the emotional struggles of Charlotte and her family. The characters were authentic and relatable. Charlotte was strong and determined to save the ranch. Jason is compassionate and refuses to let Charlotte slip away again. Overall, the story is compelling, heartfelt, and captivating from start to finish.

#2 Priya Mathew for Readers’ Favorite

I’ll Call You Home by Sharon L. Clark is a second-chance romance with an element of suspense. Charlotte Trevino rushes back to Zearing, Texas, when her father is hurt, only to find out that the family ranch is almost on the edge of collapse and her past is waiting in the wings in the form of Jason Archer, the boy who once held her heart and then broke it in two. Their unresolved feelings push them toward each other, while strange accidents and a seedy land buyer circle their property. As Charlotte attempts to transform the ranch into a working farmhouse and untangle the financial mess it’s in, Charlotte and Jason must confront their past to get to the future they didn’t think could be theirs.

In the second book of the Enderlin Calling series, Sharon L. Clark gives us a story built on nostalgia and the pull of returning home. I’ll Call You Home reads like a story you’d share across the table after a long day. The characters felt authentic. Charlotte’s impulsiveness, loyalty, and vulnerability feel true to her experiences. Jason, in contrast, holds steady to her fire. His guilt over their past adds another layer of depth to his grounded demeanor. The secondary characters – Brandon, Dr. Angus, Mitch, and Arthur – add more life and color to the storyline. I’ll Call You Home is a mix of romance and a slow-burning mystery around the ranch’s troubles. If you enjoy second-chance romances with strong family dynamics and a touch of danger, you will find much to love in this novel.

#3 Jennifer Senick for Readers’ Favorite

In I’ll Call You Home by Sharon L. Clark, Charlotte Trevino races back to her small Texas hometown after her father is injured on the family’s struggling horse ranch. Though her relatives try to assure her that things are under control, the ranch’s financial troubles, a string of “bad luck,” and a persistent developer circling their property tell a different story. Determined not to let her family’s legacy slip away, Charlotte throws herself into fixing things, only to be confronted by her own past and the return of her high school sweetheart, Jason Archer. Jason is managing his own challenges, like caring for his mother and balancing loyalty between his family and the renewed spark with Charlotte. As tensions rise and threats to the ranch become more dangerous, Charlotte and Jason find themselves drawn together, trying to protect what matters most as secrets and old feelings surface, with everything on the line. The question is whether love or the past will win.

I’ll Call You Home by Sharon L. Clark pulled me in right away. I really enjoyed the natural, down-to-earth writing style—the dialogue feels real, the humor and bickering are familiar, and the plot doesn’t get bogged down with fancy language. The way Clark brings Charlotte’s stubbornness and big heart to life made her so easy to root for, and Jason is genuine and steady, not your usual brooding hero. The back-and-forth between past hurts and present hopes is handled honestly, with enough detail so that I felt what they were going through without any over-the-top drama. I loved how the story balanced second-chance romance with family ties, small-town quirks, and just enough suspense to keep things tense but not overwhelming. It’s the kind of book that makes you think about what “home” really means.

Have you read I’ll Call You Home? Have you left a review? Reply to this email or send me a direct message with a link to – or a screenshot of – the review you wrote, and you’ll get an entry into a drawing for a FREE signed copy of I’ll Call You Home and a set of stickers and bookmarks!

Giving Books is a Gift for the Reader AND the Writer

Picking gifts for the people in your life can be stressful and chaotic. Especially when you have a grab-bag or Secret Santa situation. How do you know what to choose?

Books. Gifting a book is almost always a winning choice.

I don’t know about you, but walking into a bookstore is both heaven and hell for me. I love all the possibilities, all the different genres and gorgeous covers promising to whisk me away to a magical land or into a whirlwind (imaginary) romance. But all the possibilities can be a bit overwhelming, too.

So. Many. Choices.

There are a ton of options out there and even looking through various best-seller lists or celebrity recommendations can be overwhelming. How on earth do you find something good by an author you’ve (likely) never heard of before? If you don’t want to freeze like a deer in the headlights – like I do almost every time – let me throw out some titles for you.

Following is a collection of books from different genres, written by people I personally know, who are self-published or published by small or indie presses that don’t have the marketing clout of one of the major publishing houses.

Take a look!

Stephanie R. Caffrey is one of my very favorite people and we have been on this publishing journey together for nigh on SIX YEARS (along with the next author on my list, Jamie Seitz.) Stephanie writes romantic suspense and does such a terrific job with witty banter and high-stakes danger that you’ll be on the edge of your seat, breathless with laughter, love, or fear. Her London Detective Agency duology was published earlier this year with outstanding reviews, and she’s working on an FBI-based series next, so be sure to follow her!

Jamie Seitz is another amazing, favorite human I’ve been writing with for years, and who has been through the writers’ wringer with Stephanie and me. She writes YA and Middle Grade books with so much heart, humor, and insight that you’ll want to devour everything she writes and still beg for more. Weight of Water was sent forth into the world just this fall and people are LOVING it. If you’re looking for Judy Blume-level coming-of-age stories, gardening tips and stories, or a glimpse into the humorous side of marriage, you need look no further than Jamie.

Janine Amesta and I met through the Writing Community on Twitter several years ago and she is one of my favorites. Not only is she a gifted teller of kissing stories, but she is also a funny and encouraging voice for me and the writing community. Her Love in El Dorado series is a delight – one of them an extremely timely Christmas love story – with great reviews, gorgeous settings, and spicy romance that will get your heart racing! (Seriously, keep a glass of ice water nearby when reading.)

Mary Lee Painter and I are lucky enough to have found the same amazing agent in Katie Salvo and Metamorphosis Literary Agancy, and now get to work with the same fabulous publishing house, Satin Romance. We live almost spitting distance (I know – ew, gross) from each other, but haven’t met – YET. The Other Fork in the Road had me laughing and cringing with the characters from the first page. I love a good “forced proximity/opposites attract” love story, and Mary Lee has written a GREAT one! Her next book is due to release in the spring of 2025, so keep an eye on this one.

I am lucky enough to know many other talented authors with terrific books available, even if I haven’t read them all yet. Inspirational romance, memoir, poetry: If you don’t see something listed here that tickles your fancy, comment below or send me an email with the genre or type of story you’re looking for and I will give you a suggestion* based on my own personal knowledge of the book and/or the author.

*If you’re local, check out Reading In Public in Des Moines, where they are offering to curate a selection of books perfect for that hard-to-buy-for reader on your shopping list! Fill out their online form with your budget, the number of books you’d like to gift, genres to include or topics to exclude, and let the staff do the rest!

Don’t forget that when you buy an indie author’s book, you are showing them love and giving them validation and encouragement. Most of us aren’t in it for the money (it doesn’t hurt, mind you) but because we love to write and want to share that love with all of you!

Support local and Indie authors this holiday season and every day!

Support Indie Authors This Holiday Season!

Black Friday is only a couple of days away and the holiday season is officially upon us! Are you struggling to find a gift for your coworker, neighbor, sister, nephew, random gift grab bag? Don’t panic!!

Give the gift of BOOKS and support your local and indie authors!

There are a ton of options out there and even looking through various best-seller lists or celebrity recommendations can be overwhelming. How on earth do you find something good by an author you’ve (likely) never heard of before?

You let me make some suggestions.

Following is a collection of books from different genres written by people I personally know who are self-published or independently published and don’t have the marketing clout of one of the major publishing houses. I have read almost all of the books listed – I haven’t finished all the series, unfortunately. Take a look!

Laura A. Barnes is a Des Moines area author I met by doing NaNoWriMo in 2017. (Turns out we were on the same United Nations trip when we were in high school but never met – small world, right?) Laura writes steamy period romances and currently has three series available for purchase. Whether you’re looking for pirates and spies, noble scoundrels, or matchmaking madness, Laura has got the goods to get your pulse racing.

Sarah Latchaw lives near me and is one of the most delightful people I know. Her Hydraulic Series is full of relatable characters, swoon-worthy romantic moments, humor, and a view of mental illness from a place of true love. Her writing style pulls you in and her characters are so real that you can’t help but laugh and cry right along with them. This trilogy isn’t the spicy type, but will get your heart racing.

I met Jethro Weyman through the writing platform Channillo and we became friends via the Twitter #WritingCommunity. I was struck by the amazing prose of his writing and the unique and wickedly clever ways he explores some dark and existential themesBang to Begin is a gorgeously written collection of stories that seem unconnected on the surface. Kind of mind-bendy deep stuff.

Taylor Hohulin is a local radio celebrity and all-around terrific human. the first time I read his writing, I was pulled in and have devoured pretty much everything of his since. I met him through NaNoWriMo, as well, and was lucky enough to get encouragement from him through a small critique group and I learned a lot from him.

  • The Marian Series follows a young man who gets unexpectedly transported to a pirate ship in another world where water is the ultimate prize. This trilogy is kind-of steampunk and has both human and supernatural dangers and lots of terrific science fiction gadgets.
  • TAR is probably my favorite, though. If you like cybernetic body modifications and a dangerous, living infection that ravages anyone it comes in contact with in horrific ways, set in a post-apocalyptic alternate future, you’ll dig this. It’s a tale of a traveling wizard with a shotgun but told through the exploits of a sometimes-likable survivor.
  • Your Best Apocalypse Now will have you chuckling almost immediately. In this humorous light fantasy novel, a struggling author jumps on the bandwagon of best-selling doomsday books, making it up as he goes along. Or so he thinks. When he correctly predicts the end of the world, a group of other-worldly beings take him on a journey that he could never have predicted.

Kelly Fumiko Weiss is another tremendous talent that I discovered through Channillo. I have read two of her books, from vastly different genres.

  • Her science-fiction-esque novel, The Cube, is set in an alternate near future where a mysterious cube has changed the way the world works. The main character and his best friend, Molly, start out on a fun treasure hunt for a series of mysterious symbols, but the fun turns to unexpected romance and danger for them and their friends.
  • Her other novel, The Stories We Choose Not to Tell, is a story of familial relationships and racial identity for a Japanese-American woman who learns about herself and the roots of her strained relationship with her mother by exploring the life story of her late Obachan (grandmother) who lived in a World War II Japanese internment camp on American soil. Well-written characters that had me crying along with them at the end of the book.

I am lucky enough to know many other talented authors with terrific books available, even if I haven’t read them all yet. Inspirational romance, memoir, poetry: If you don’t see something listed here that tickles your fancy, comment below or send me an email with the genre or type of story you’re looking for and I will give you a suggestion based on my own personal knowledge of the book and/or the author.

Do YOU have any recommendations of books written by indie-published or self-published authors? Share them below

Happy Holidays from my family to yours!

Join the ‘Christmas Book Flood’ with Indie Authors

In Iceland, there is a holiday tradition called Jolabokaflod (Christmas Book Flood) in which books are given as gifts on Christmas Eve and the family spends the evening reading and drinking hot chocolate or a non-alcoholic Christmas ale.

I love this idea!

Not only does it expand the reader’s horizons and support authors, but it also gives everyone a moment to just relax. The holiday season is so fast and wild, filled with shopping and parties and traveling that you need to allow your family – and yourself – time to just slow down and enjoy the moment.

In encouraging all of you to try this tradition on for size, I’d also like to make a few suggestions on books to gift. Through the local and online writing community, I have met some talented authors from all over the world: Australia, Central Iowa, Chicago, England, California, Florida, Pennsylvania. Their genres span everything from saucy romance to horror to dystopian sci-fi to women’s fiction to inspiration and more. And I’d love to share them with you.

Here is a list of some of my favorite indie authors:

Taylor Hohulin: “Your Best Apocalypse Now”

Sarah Latchaw: “Hydraulic Level 5”

Laura A. Barnes: “Rescued By The Captain”

Michael Stoneburner: “He Was A Boy Who Smiled, Book One: Phoenix Rising”

Jeanine Lunsford: “Remembering First Love”

Kelly Fumiko Weiss: “The Cube”

Rev. Rebecca Holland: “Through My Good Eye”

Jethro Weyman: “Two Halves of the Candle: Volume One”

Ben Monroe: “Dying of the Light: A Short Story of Survival Horror”

Adam Wing: “Matriarch”

Some of these authors have series, some write poetry and novels, some write more than one genre, so be sure to check out each author to see their other work. Keep in mind that by purchasing one or more of these books, you’re giving two gifts: one to the recipient and one to the independent author through supporting their dream.

What is a favorite book you received or gave as a gift? Leave a comment below or send me an email!