My Story

Welcome! I’m Sharla, an artist based in a tiny town near Regina, Saskatchewan.

From as far back as I can remember, I have loved to create. I spent a great deal of my childhood sitting on my bedroom floor, drawing, painting, and writing stories. (Side note: I am a ‘floor person,’ as some people say.) This passion for the arts with a love for public service led me to my formal education in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. I spent many years in this career, planning and facilitating activities and experiences for others. That love for reading and creating never went away, though.

When I became a mother, I began to collect children’s books about the world, books that were fun for grown-ups to read to children, and the same silly classics I had loved that my kids were now enjoying. Thinking about the many interesting places around us in Saskatchewan, and taking the elements of what made a book enjoyable in our house, the idea for “Six Saskatchewan Bunnies” was born. Shortly after, I left my career in Recreation to write this book and spend more time with my tiny humans.

Before I had ever finished writing my first book, I knew that this would become a series exploring all of Canada. Two years later I published “Mark the Manitoba Moose.” Both of my children’s books are printed through Kindle Direct Publishing, making them available online worldwide, as well as in several stores, and through the Saskatchewan publishing association, Sask Books. I prefer a poetic feel in my writing, with a focus on rhyming and alliteration.

It was as I began writing again that I began painting again, too. Maps, animals, and colourful skies became my favourite subjects. Geometry and gradients became my favourite methods, and acrylic paint and gouache became my favourite mediums.

The response to my work has been overwhelmingly positive, with one teacher stating that my books are a “must-have for any elementary classroom in Canada.” I have had the great privilege of sharing them and talking about the process of writing books with many children ages 2-9 in schools and libraries. I also volunteer in my local school, reading with students to build their confidence and skill.

Even with a passion and a book that I believed in, navigating the world of publishing took months, intensive learning, and perseverance. In the years since, I have been able to share that knowledge with many other aspiring writers both one-on-one and through social media. Frequently, people reach out to me to ask about the process, editing, publishers, and printers. I love to share what I know, learn with them what I don’t and encourage others on their journeys.

Keep in touch

Keep in touch with me on Instagram + Facebook + Tiktok!

If you like my work, and would like something of your very own, visit the Shop tab, or contact me using the Contact tab.