Writing
Telling stories is in my genes.*
My current projects include picture books (prose and poetry), essays, humor/gift books, blog posts, screenwriting, and playwriting. I enjoy writing stories that engage the imagination and I’ve always been particularly drawn to writing for young people or family audiences. Like most writers, I have volumes of story ideas but when I happen upon the tale I can’t not tell I eagerly embark on a new adventure, lost in the world of that story.
I was greatly influenced by my artistic parents. I loved creating stories from the day I learned to write. (I still have the story I wrote in 1st grade called The Cucumber Seed that won me a spot representing my school at a city-wide event.) In elementary and middle school I filled my extracurricular time with study and practical experience in the arts, learning to tell stories through acting, singing, dance, and piano. I attended Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, spent two years as a theatre major at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, and obtained my BA in Theatre at UCLA. My educational and artistic background paved the way for a variety of professional experiences including assisting in an agency that represented film and television directors of photography, a nine-year stint coordinating cast and crew at a Los Angeles-based commercial production company, and as co-founder of the critically-acclaimed children’s entertainment company imagination station, writing and producing six seasons of original theatre.
I am an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and PDX Playwrights.
Need content created? Looking for a collaborator? Let’s chat!
Written work (produced and in-progress)
- The History of Art (in Forty Minutes or Less)*
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears*
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow*
- The Frog Prince*
- Rumpelstiltskin*
- Puss in Boots*
- Aesop’s Fables* (also developed into a recorded work that was awarded a Parent’s Choice Silver Honor)
- The King Who Couldn’t Dance*
- East of the Sun, West of the Moon*
- The Three Little Pigs*
- Untitled musical**
- Interactive mystery**
- Crossing Lines**
*Co-written and originally produced with imagination station (co-founder)
**in progress
Feedback from touring productions of The History of Art (in Forty Minutes or Less):
“…Thank you for a great performance…fast-paced, informative, and delightful!”
–L. Wells, Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum Event Coordinator
“I just wanted to let you know that I heard again and again how much everyone enjoyed the performance…You really made an impact at the school!” –Zilker Elementary PTA member
“…unique approach to education…Both youth and adults are able to enjoy your performance for different reasons, and everyone can learn something new.”–C. Kaplan, Director of Outreach and Education, UTMB
- I-WOW (Interplanetary World of Wonders) — genre: humor, adventure, family sci-fi
“This year’s Family Day was a great success! And much of that success was due to your presentation of the wonderful play, The History of Art in Forty Minutes or Less.”
Nelie Plourde, Umlauf Sculpture Garden Museum Director
“I thought your show was so terrific that I should write to tell you how much I enjoyed your performance…[We] have taken our boys to a number of theatrical performances at the Paramount Theater over the last couple of years. We have seen some quite elaborate productions with large casts and spectacular sets. Even so, I enjoyed your show more than any one of those productions. I thought your show was educational and funny, witty and entertaining.”
Ed L., Parent, Murchison Elementary School, Pflugerville
“I have had the opportunity to work with Shari on many blog posts for my business. We are a family-owned, community-focused and value-based automotive service facility. It is critically important to me that our culture of honesty and integrity are conveyed in our marketing efforts. It’s a tough industry to promote in that light and Shari always nailed it! She produced fantastic results through research that even taught me things about our industry! I trust her to carry my message forward to the public carte blanche.”
Scott S, Sherwood, OR
“I love working with someone who can follow the brief AND add a special something. Shari is my go-to gal for content creation.”
Lara B., Agency 1138
“Shari is an incredibly talented writer, researcher, interviewer, event planner and creative maven. I was lucky enough to work with Shari on All Classical Portland’s 30th Anniversary Celebration, for which Shari researched and wrote a 30-year history of the radio station, produced print and video collateral, and planned a massive gala. Shari is a true professional and an asset to any organization that hires her. I am grateful to have had the chance to work with her…”
Andrea R., Portland, OR