As a former teacher of special needs children, Sharpe has direct experience regarding the effect bullying has on children. Her award-winning, bestselling books help readers find hope, inspiration and gratitude.
We are naturally appalled when we begin to realize what kind of world we will be handing off to our children - never-ending wars, schools shootings, climate change, social media, bullying - is this what we want for those future generations - our kids?
We can say the world is what it is, and it's a tough place to be. But that's the easy way out. We could instead believe in the inherent good in people and see these issues as aberrations - believing that there is something beyond ourselves that can empower us to confront these challenges with a sense of inner strength and fortitude.
Bestselling author Jody Sharpe does not merely believe this "something beyond" exists - she knows it. And she has seen first-hand its power to change lives for the better. She recently addressed this in several articles posted on her site. In those articles she said in part:
It’s A Wonderful Life has always been my favorite holiday movie. Maybe it’s because the theme of the film is truly about love and kindness and how it changes everything. In the film, an angel comes to change George’s life. George is a man who wants to end his life as the bully in the town has seemingly ruined the family business. Clarence, the angel, appears showing George what life would have been like if George had never been born. In the end George realizes his unselfish kindness to the townsfolk and his family has saved the business and that he really does have a Wonderful Life.
I encountered an angel once long ago when hope seemed gone after my daughter died. The angel, like Clarence, appeared human to me and comforted me with his words. He seemingly disappeared and I realized it had been a true miracle in my life. I knew then putting my family first was paramount. Life had to go on and my children needed me more that ever.
I believe we must give our children a wonderful life as best we can. Through the wartorn world now, the children must be at the forefront of every adults mind. The children are the world’s future. They watch us, they learn from us. They can learn love or they can learn that bullying, another word for hate, is okay. Bullying has no place in our world. We must nuture our children as best we can. Just as George’s town helped him thwart the bully with their kindness, every child deserves protection from the hate in the world.
I believe angels come when we need them the most. They come to us with a spoken word or a smile. Some angels appear human and some have actually appeared with wings to many of us. I know in my heart that the love light the angels bring us is real. It’s from a higher power, which is God to me.
In these times of trouble in the world, when hate and bullying try to dominate everyone’s thinking, I believe in my heart that thinking about angels and asking for their help truly can change a moment. I pray the angels will help all the children across the world. I pray for their chance to be free, for their peace, for their laughter and song to lift up to heaven. I pray that if we all visualize the world at peace, it will help all of our days and nights. I pray for a world where our grandchildren will be safe, where hate is replaced by love and the bullies of the world will finally see the light of angels and learn what I know to be true.
The full text of the articles is available at http://jodysharpe.com/blog/.
Sharpe's message resonates with readers, offering a beacon of hope. She passionately champions the transformative influence of uplifting literature, which can provide a ray of optimism in the face of depression and anxiety. Her anti-bullying message illuminates a path towards healing and resilience. Readers will discover in her books a profound shift in perspective that will carry over into their daily lives. They serve as an invitation to view the world through a different lens, one that empowers us to find the strength within to see the good in all people.
Her most recent work, 20 Moon Road, An Angel's Tale, features a character from her Mystic Bay series, Madam Norma. Madam Norma is based on a woman who influenced Sharpe's life in a number of unforgettable ways.
Diane Donovan at Midwest Book Review stated, "Do angels come to children with special needs? In Mystic Bay, they do. As the truth emerges about the town's makeup, history, and mission, readers become immersed in a spiritual story of angels and beliefs that drive positive changes and kindness in the world and spread beyond the small town of angels.
"Sharpe's Mystic Bay series embodies hope, belief, the power of conviction and angel influences, and the acts of kindness that lead humanity on a better, gentler path. 20 Moon Road's revelations of relationships with Madame Norma that changed lives and transformed beliefs through documented angel sightings by special needs children makes for a warm tale of revelation and discovery that explores guardian angels, lasting legacies, and blessings.
"Libraries and readers looking for blends of fantasy and spiritual examination will welcome the Mystic Bay series as a whole and this latest addition in particular, which expands the nature, purposes, and insights of Mystic Bay upon the larger world outside its borders."
Mark Walker of Midwest Book Review said, "The last paragraph reflects the unique vision and mysticism, which exudes throughout this book:
As we fly away from the beach on a mission to help someone in need, I know what God and all angels know and what Madam Norma always shared. Only love can mend our hearts and our Earth. Only love can set us free. Madam Norma's life was simply made of pure love, for as she told me once, 'Kindness is the first ingredient of love.'
"I look forward to someday seeing the Mystic Bay Series on the Hallmark TV channel!"
Books by Jody Sharpe include:
To Catch an Angel - Jody is also the author of 'To Catch an Angel', written in memory of her late husband Steve. In 'To Catch an Angel', miracles happen in Mystic Bay, California, the town with the psychic and angel vibe. Angels are calling. Psychic Maggie Malone returns home to find she's swept up in the miracle of it all. She can't imagine why her mother left or who her father might be. But these questions pale in comparison to the wonder of the angels. Maggie meets writer, Noah Greenstreet. They realize they've met before, but where? Maggie and Noah embark on a journey to find our world is all awash with angels.
The Angel's Daughter - A secret lies in Mystic Bay, California, and only two people know it. First, there’s Hannah, a tender curly-headed half-angel. Then there’s her father, Gabe, an effervescent, teddy bear of a full-blooded angel. And it’s up to Hannah to keep the secret safe, but she’s made a colossal mistake telling her ex-boyfriend and writing professor, Sam Blakely. Now he's written a book exposing the secret to the world.
Town Of Angels - Angel vs. Bully in the town of Mystic Bay, California, where a well-kept secret lies. Angels live as humans there. After angels appeared to three children, all was blissful in the town full of psychics, and ordinary folk. But as brute, Klaus Waxman, comes to town, angel Ken Leighton, a storeowner, must carefully guide his flock of humans not to give in to the bully's efforts.As Klaus opens a store mocking the resident angel sightings, angel Ken guides psychic Justine Greer, and her family to thwart his efforts. And with the help of the indomitable oldest psychic in town, Madam Norma, the bully meets his match through the soft voices and intuitive minds of his neighbors.
Special Needs Children, The Angels On My Shoulder is a memoir based on her twenty-five years teaching children with special needs. The book placed second in the National Federation Of Press Women's At-Large Communication contest. The book is as entertaining as it is illuminating. It's a love story about the special students and others who over the years graced her life with just that, their grace.
With hearts of angels and challenges to face, the children took Sharpe along their journeys and inspired her own life's journey of self-discovery. When sorrow came, their kindness helped her through. The synchronicity of events from high school to retirement changed her life for the better, turning her face toward heaven.
Midwest Book Review stated, "Sharpe's ability to see the good in circumstances and people identifies the 'special' in 'special needs' as she delineates her journey through the education system and those teaching and social encounters which changed her perspective and life."
"Teachers (especially those working with special needs kids) will find this spiritual and social reflection easily accessible. It's presented in vignettes which offer small, digestible bites of insight into a world where angels and kindness are present in more than one form."
Special Needs Children followed her recently released children's book about angels, When The Angel Sent Butterflies. The new book helps children understand that love from their parents and others surrounds them. Love conquers fear, and believing that angels are near can help sweep any childhood fear away. This concept is presented in the book when Angel Ken sends Jones and Kate butterflies. The book, appropriate for ages 2 to 7, is now available at Amazon and Ingram.
Her latest book, Summer Of Angels, is a mystery novel. Meteorologist and psychic, Gayle Force proves a force to be reckoned with as she moves back to her beloved Mystic Bay, California. While sleeping, an angel sent her a vision in a dream of a future event. Gayle realizes she must use her intuition to save an old man from drowning. But who is this old man?
With the help of intuitive attorney, Alex Knight, she finds they are caught in the middle of a future crime. But can Gayle and Alex solve the case and save the old man before it’s too late? With surprising twists and turns of intrigue and love, Gayle and Alex find there are angels at the helm as they help prove the bully never wins.
In addition, on the "Tuesdays With The Angels" section of her site, Sharpe presents stories of real-life encounters with angels. The stories are available at Sharpe's website at http://www.jodysharpe.com.
Sharpe hopes to create a collection of angel stories that involve sightings of angels, interaction with angels, miraculous angel encounters, and other types of accounts or stories. Everyone is welcome to submit angel stories. All submissions will be considered, but inclusion is not guaranteed. Stories may be submitted at http://bit.ly/2FV8amd.
Sharpe's YouTube channel brings all of this together, offering segments on all of these topics. One topic of special interest is bullying, specifically as it relates to special needs children.
In addition to the National Federation of Press Women’s award, Jody was chosen as a winner in the annual "50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading" Book Awards. She was chosen from a field of hundreds of authors through a public voting process.
Jody also announced recently that two new screen treatments of her books are now available: The Angel's Daughter and Town Of Angels Christmas.
Jody Sharpe is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at sharpejody76@gmail.com. Angel stories can be submitted at http://bit.ly/2FV8amd. All of her books are available at online book retailers. New quotes will be added every Tuesday to the "Tuesdays With The Angels" section of her blog, which can be found at her website at http://www.JodySharpe.com.
Profile:
Jody Sharpe had a rewarding career as a Special Education teacher. Writing about angels became healing after losing her daughter and then her husband. The valuable lessons she learned about moving forward and loving life in the now have set her on a mission to tell the stories with love, humor and spiritual awakening. The fictitious town of Mystic Bay has given her an avenue to put characters and themes together hopefully enlightening the reader towards contemplation of the precious life and memories we are given.
Contact:
Jody Sharpe
sharpejody76@gmail.com