Sharon O'Donnell is the author of two humor books, Please Don't Let Me Be the Oldest Mom in the PTA! (Torchflame Books, July, 2018) & House of Testosterone -- One Mom's Survival in a Household of Males (Houghton Mifflin, 2008), which was named a notable book by Booksense, a publication of a national organization of independent book dealers. In 2021, Sharon's children's book, Pancake Jake & Wally Waffle, was released, & she's received lots of positive feedback about kids loving the fun adventures of Jake, while they also learn that pancakes and waffles are made of the same ingredients even though they look different. A story of diversity and inclusion. More info is here.

For 12 years, Sharon wrote an award-winning newspaper column for The Cary News, Cary, NC. In addition, she's written for Good Housekeeping and Better Homes & Gardens.  
 
She has taught writing courses in elementary and middle schools as a Writer-in-Residence in over 25 schools in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Sharon has worked in radio promotions and in communications for non-profit organizations. She has also worked on public relations projects (Town of Cary, etc.) and does public speaking about various topics, including the inclusion of more uplifting literature in high schools, her most inspiring teacher, and humorous anecdotes from her books.

In 2017, Sharon became a lyricist and co-wrote songs with local teen artist Brooke Hatala (see Lyric Writing page for details). In December of 2017, Brooke performed one of the songs she and Sharon co-wrote at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Sharon also co-wrote two demo songs with Chad Lister of Osceola Studios in Raleigh, one of which was featured on country station WQDR's Homegrown Carolina series. In 2018 and in 2022, two of the songs Sharon co-wrote with Brooke were also featured on that same WQDR series. More info is on the Lyrics page of this site. 

Sharon lives in Cary, NC with her husband, Kevin, whom she's been married to since 1988, and their long-haired dachshund, Norman, with frequent visits from their sons who all live nearby. Middle son, David, got married to long-time girlfriend, Claire in October of 2021 (postponed from 2020 due to the Covid situation), and oldest son, Bill is engaged to Amelia, and their wedding will be March 10th. Sharon is so excited and blessed to have some estrogen to help balance the House of Testosterone! Youngest son Jason will graduate from NC State in December of 2023.

Since she had her youngest son in her late 30s, Sharon sometimes blogs for the most popular website for 'older' moms, motherhoodlater.com 
​She has completed one other humor manuscript, The Guy Zone, as well as a coming-of-age novel manuscript, Hand-Me-Downs. She's currently pitching these projects to publishers. In addition, she's also working on a screenplay based on her first  published book, House of Testosterone. 

Sharon is a life-long resident of the Raleigh-Cary area (formerly Sharon Johnson) and is a 1984 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in broadcast and print journalism (even though she has always been an avid NC State fan, thanks to her dad, class of '49). 

Sharon also developed uplit.org, a site dedicated to the promoting the importance of including some uplifting literature in high schools. That site also includes many links about teen anxiety/depression/suicide and videos of inspiring, positive or resonating songs & movies. 

Sharon thanks you for visiting her site and hopes you check out her books and other websites. She also hopes/begs that you follow here on Twitter (@4boysanddog, Facebook (SurvivingAHouseofTestosterone), and Instagram (all listed above in the right corner). You may also contact her at sjodonnell513@gmail.com