Freelance Journalist


About Sharon

Why write a biography? It only pins you down. Suffice to say I was born in Africa.  And already that’s seeing the world without its skin. My father was the local gynaecologist. My mother was born in Strasbourg. My grandmother lived with us. In many ways I loved my childhood but not in others. I would have been cheating myself if I hadn’t left to study English literature in Britain. Before that I was lucky enough to live in Paris on the threshold of womanhood, in the spring, on my own, and of course that stays with you forever. We ate well and cheaply and I learnt to love wine and got engaged. At Edinburgh I got a First class MA Honours and the Janet Christie Bequest to study abroad. So we drove to Florence and lived in an old farmhouse for 8 months, learning Italian, studying at the British Institute.

In the slipstream of your life you imagine you’ll be a great writer, another Virginia Woolf, have the perfect family, be the best mother. So many impossible aims. I ended up being a journalist. A mother to one daughter. A lover. As a journalist I did quite a lot of good in the beginning. Campaigning stories, saving a horribly mistreated lioness in Italy, seals in the Hebrides, premature babies at Dulwich hospital in need of incubators, endangered leatherback turtles in Tobago. I have done a lot of travel articles, restaurant and hotel reviews, and many years of exciting seat-of-the pants Showbiz stories, travelling with Freddie Mercury, Rod Steward, Spandau Ballet, interviewing Angelina Jolie, Leonardo di Caprio, Bono, Jude Law. Now I’m writing a novel set in Venice and its working title is Behind the Mirror. With a novel, which takes years to write, you’re not the same person at the end of the book as you were  at the beginning. The story has changed, the characters are deeper, but you have changed with them. You fall in love with all of them. I’m nearly ready to say goodbye to them and let them stand on their own.

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007 Stunt Ban

Daniel’s wife Rachel lays down law Action man Daniel Craig has promised to cut back on his James Bond stunts to remove the Spectre of yet more painful injuries. He made the vow to give actress wife Rachel Weisz some Solace after she grew “worried sick” by the toll on his “broken body”. The couple … Continued

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Louise: I don’t think it’s all over

Louise Redknapp is refusing to give up on her marriage to her soccer pundit hubby Jamie, telling pals: “it’s not over for good.” The Strictly star was pictured returning to the UK last week for showdown talks – still wearing her wedding ring. The couple have yet to comment on reports their 19-year marriage is … Continued

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They drink it’s all over

TV soccer pundit Jamie Redknapp enjoys a night out on the town – as wife Louise assures pals: “Our marriage is not over for good”. The couple have been struggling to piece their 19-year marriage back together after being torn apart by the former Eternal singer’s gruelling stint on Strictly Come Dancing. Friends say the … Continued

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‘£1m deal for lover’s book’

Publishers are desperate to offer George Michael’s former lover Fadi Fawaz a £1million book deal to tell all about the star’s final days. Random House publishing is believed to be one of the book giants who hope to sign Fadi. But a source close to photographer Fadi dismissed any prospect of a book soon. The … Continued