Picture a storyteller who weaves magic, mystery, and a dash of humor into every page—meet Sharon Pape! This American author has carved a unique niche in the world of cozy paranormal mysteries, blending quirky characters with supernatural twists. From her childhood scribbles to her inspiring journey through personal challenges, Pape’s life and work are a testament to resilience and creativity.
The Making of Sharon Pape
Born with a pen in hand (or so it seems), Sharon Pape began crafting stories as soon as she could string words together in first grade. Growing up on Long Island, New York, she wrote plays for friends and even tackled a novel by seventh grade. After studying French and Spanish literature in college, she taught high school, penning poetry on the side. Life took a turn when she left teaching to raise her two children, but her muse never left her. Her early novel, Ghostfire, marked her debut, condensed by Redbook Magazine as its first paperback original—a feat that set the stage for her literary career.
In 1992, Pape faced a daunting challenge: a breast cancer diagnosis. Undeterred, she transformed her experience into action, volunteering with the American Cancer Society’s Reach to Recovery program and later co-founding Lean On Me, a nonprofit offering peer support to breast cancer patients. After a decade of service, she returned to her first love—writing—proving her storytelling spirit was unstoppable.
Sharon Pape’s Unforgettable Stories
Pape’s novels are a delightful cocktail of detective mysteries, paranormal elements, and humor, served with a side of quirky characters. Her Portrait of Crime Mystery series follows Rory McCain, a police sketch artist turned private investigator, who teams up with Ezekiel 'Zeke' Drummond, a 19th-century federal marshal’s ghost. In Sketch Me If You Can, Rory inherits her uncle’s PI business and a haunted Victorian mansion, solving crimes with Zeke’s old-fashioned charm. To Sketch a Thief deepens their partnership as a stray dog leads them to a murder case, blending heart and suspense.
The Abracadabra Mystery series introduces Kailyn Wilde, a modern witch running a magical shop in New Camel, New York. In Magick & Mayhem, Kailyn navigates murder and magic with her feline familiar, Sashkatu, and a time-displaced Merlin. Magickal Mystery Lore sees her tackling a fairground mystery with humor and heart. Pape’s style shines through her stubborn, impulsive heroines and their crotchety paranormal sidekicks, creating stories that are as fun as they are gripping.
Her earlier works, like Ghostfire and The Portal, showcase her lifelong fascination with the supernatural. Pape’s ability to pair small-town settings with otherworldly elements makes her books a cozy yet thrilling escape, earning praise from authors like Lynn Cahoon and Rose Pressey for their charm and wit.
Why Sharon Pape Matters
Sharon Pape’s impact extends beyond her pages. Her novels offer readers a blend of escapism and empowerment, with strong female leads like Rory and Kailyn who face challenges with intuition and grit. Her work has carved a cozy corner in the paranormal mystery genre, appealing to fans of humor-infused whodunits. Beyond fiction, Pape’s legacy as a breast cancer advocate through Lean On Me has touched countless lives, showing her heart is as big as her imagination.
Her stories resonate because they balance the extraordinary with the everyday, reminding us that even in the face of ghosts or magic, human resilience shines. Pape’s journey from a young writer to a cancer survivor and nonprofit founder inspires aspiring authors and readers alike to embrace their passions, no matter the obstacles.
- Key Works: Sketch Me If You Can, Magick & Mayhem, Ghostfire
- Genres: Cozy Paranormal Mystery, Supernatural Fiction
- Home Base: Long Island, New York
Snag Magick & Mayhem or Sketch Me If You Can and dive into Sharon Pape’s enchanting world of mystery and magic!