Local Author Spotlight
Dr Peter Scott and Associates are specialist orthodontists offering orthodontic care for children, teens and adults alike in both the Mornington Peninsula and inner Melbourne. Dr Peter Scott is also a consultant at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Specialist Orthodontists Creating Beautiful Smiles on the Peninsula for Over 30 Years Expertise in Child and Adult Orthodontics Early Assessment Of Dental Development and Facial Growth Ideal Age of Initial Assessment 7-9 Years Early Intervention Where Appropriate for Best Outcome No Referral Necessary Interest Free Payment Plans Available Braces and Aligners
13 Beach St Frankston
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28 Peninsula Kids – Spring 2025
Sharna Carter
A
S A CHILD GROWING UP IN THE LEAFY SUBURB .OF FRANKSTON SOUTH, SHARNA CARTER COULD ALWAYS BE FOUND READING OR LOST IN A WORLD OF IMAGINATION. WHETHER SHE WAS PUTTING ON BACKYARD PLAYS, INVENTING GAMES WITH HER SIBLINGS, OR DREAMING OF STARDOM ON NEIGHBOURS, SHARNA’S DAYS WERE STEEPED IN CREATIVITY AND STORYTELLING. ALTHOUGH THE CHILDHOOD DREAM OF BECOMING A TV STAR FADED, HER DEEP LOVE FOR BOOKS AND STORYTELLING ONLY GREW STRONGER WITH TIME AND LED HER TO BECOMING A CHILDREN’S AUTHOR. With a passion for performance from a young age, Sharna naturally gravitated toward studying Drama at university. Her love for the stage evolved into a passion for teaching and, after graduating, she began a rewarding career in education. Though she’s currently on leave, Sharna still sees teaching as a fundamental part of who she is. “Teaching is a career that I’m really proud of,” she says. “I particularly loved working with teenagers, and it gave me the opportunity to inspire young creatives.’ It wasn’t until the birth of her first child in 2014 that Sharna’s path took a creative turn toward picture books. “I was always reading to my son. Any time of day, we’d curl up together and share a story,” she says with a smile. “I started having little rhymes pop into my head, along with characters and story ideas, so I began writing them down.” What began as a quiet creative outlet during nap times soon became a passion. By the time she had her second child in 2016, Sharna had completed writing courses, joined an online writing critique group, and was writing almost every day. Several of Sharna’s short stories were selected for publication with the Anthology Angels, a charity initiative that donates profits from book sales to various causes. Her story, The Butcher’s Boy, was featured on 4RPH Reading Radio Halloween Special, and her story and performative reading of, Gruff Billy’s Goatee, was selected for the Life’s Little Treasures Read-A-Thon.