Sharon & NOT the von Trapp family

 by Greg Bepper

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd; but not for long, because they were kidnapped, hidden in a bathtub with pink ribbons on their heads! But more about that later.

Artistic Influences
As artists, be it, in any of the arts; we have first been influenced by those that have gone before. In my case, it was Jerry Lewis, Red Skelton, The Marx Bros, Jackie Gleason and Art Carney. Later, Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, the Monty Python crew and the highly influential: Robin Williams.

Artists do not so much mimic their influences early in their career than learn from them. Of course something 'rubs off' and stays with them while they develop their own niche, their own style.

So what has this to do with a lonely goatherd?

In 2012 I discovered the writings of Sharon Ruggieri; a married mum with six kids, seven if you count hubby, and numerous varieties of vermin they classify as pets. Definitely NOT the von Trapp family!

It only took a couple of paragraphs reading Sharon's blog to have the influence of that wonderful, satirical writer of family life: Erma Bombeck, the author of The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, jump off the page, or should I say screen. BUT, it wasn't a direct copy of style nor a tribute, but a very witty, original take on Sharon's day to day life with undertones of admiration of her greatest influence: Erma.

I was hooked. There was no way I could stop at one. I spent the rest of the afternoon with Sharon. In her company on event filled trips to Walmart. Sitting at her dinner table as naked Barbies were discovered in the freezer. And many, many, MANY enlightening trips to the hospital emergency room, as various objects were extracted from ill fitting body parts of her children. 

As I digested every word, images bounced around in my head. I saw this on stage. Audiences sharing the everyday turmoil and antics of a mid-west family in permanent Code Red. Stories and situations that make the Bundy's look like the Brady Bunch. 

A virgin no more!

No one was more excited than me with the announcement that Sharon's virginity, as a published author that is, was about to end. Yes, the Ruggieri family warts were about to be nestled between the covers of ... a book! 

When the big day arrived I was one of the first in, credit card in hand, typing details furiously, clicking the confirmation button more times than my browser could handle. Download Complete. Two little words that sent me into a world of hilarity, OMG situations and pure joy.

Sharon had come of age.. again. But this time as an author with her own style. A style that takes her readers not only into her world but into her mind. Each story peppered with ounce of reality and a pound of her humour.

The road to a best seller

It's a road well trodden by many. A journey that has many twists and turns, road blocks and dead ends. But travellers that keep on track, no matter how many times they commence this trek; will ultimately find journeys' end and a gift for their effort. 

As with most newly published works, especially self published, and inaugural publications; this road is more a dirt track than paved. 

Sharon's avid readers, myself included, rallied to get her book jump started out of the driveway and on it's way up this road. Sales commenced, promotion abounded, word of mouth spread. Then the puff turned to huff as momentum slowed and the band packed up and went home. 


In case of emergency - Relaunch!

As Sharon pen's more misadventures of the Ruggieri household for her second book; she has relaunched Sharing Mom's MADHOUSE - A book with sprinkles of truth  with a special reduced price for the kindle version or the Paperback or the NOOK version or the ePub version

Visit Sharon's Blog... 

Author: Greg Bepper © 2013
Artistic Director
Greg Bepper's Thunderbolt Theatre & Film Productions
thunderbolttheatre.com