Sharon Winters is a retired English and Math teacher, world traveler, humorist, and award-winning author whose writing blends wit, heart, and a love of adventure. A multi-faceted talent with a gift for turning everyday encounters into unforgettable stories, Sharon has delighted readers with tales ranging from desert rats and rescued dogs to cross-cultural discoveries in China. Her acclaimed works include Cutted Chicken in Shanghai, Karl’s Diary: It’s a Dog’s Life, A Quilt for Charley: Based on a True Story, Runtie the Desert Rat, and her forthcoming collection Stories From Sharon and Her Service Dog Charley.
Sharon has a BS in Psychology from Illinois State University and an MA in humanities from the University of Texas. Her writing has been published in MENSA BULLETIN, The New Mexican, and The Rodent Reader Quarterly. Whether writing a memoir, children’s stories, or animal adventures, Sharon invites readers to sit safely in their chair while they are entertained, inspired, and reminded of the love that is theirs, too.
This one-on-one interview shares Sharon’s background and experience writing Cutted Chicken in Shanghai.
Tell us about Cutted Chicken in Shanghai.
People often ask me, “What was it like to live in Shanghai?”
In Cutted Chicken in Shanghai, I invite you to step into my world as an American navigating life in one of the most fascinating cities on earth. Drawn from the journals I kept during my years abroad, this memoir is a candid, humorous, and heartfelt journey through culture shock, connection, and discovery.
From deciphering menus and braving chaotic supermarkets to relying on my driver (who didn’t speak English) to keep me safe, every day brought new challenges and unexpected joy. But what I found most unforgettable were the friendships that blossomed along the way, reminding me that beneath cultural differences lies something universal: love, laughter, and belonging.
More than a memoir, Cutted Chicken in Shanghai is a love letter to the people who opened their hearts to me, and an invitation for you to find a piece of your own heart in a city that became a second home to me.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
My fascination with other cultures has shaped both my life and my writing.
I hold a BA in psychology, sociology, and anthropology, and an MA in humanities: the study of culture itself. My professional experience spans teaching English 101 and special education, as well as working as an editor, all of which honed my ability to tell stories that connect with readers.
My love of China began at age eight when my father handed me a Chinese newspaper at a local restaurant in Chicago. I couldn’t read a word, and at that moment, I declared, “Dad, I want to learn Chinese and live in China.” He told me, “Then you will!”
Decades later, I did.
That lifelong curiosity, combined with my academic and professional background, informs the humor, heart, and insight woven into Cutted Chicken in Shanghai.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
Living in Shanghai and being able to speak Mandarin transported me into a world where I had eleven million friends. One of my friends even gave me a Chinese name: Wen Li Xia, meaning Warm Beautiful Sunrise. Through the everyday adventures of shopping for art, pearls, and my husband’s favorite cookies, I came to love not just the city, but its people and their rich, fascinating culture. I hope readers take away the joy of connection across cultures and the warmth that comes from embracing a world beyond their own.
Purchasing the Book
Cutted Chicken in Shanghai has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world. Book Excellence writes, “With sharp wit and vivid storytelling, Cutted Chicken in Shanghai captures the humor, culture shock, and wonder of daily life in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.” In addition, Foreword Reviews writes, “A delightful and…humorous marriage of memoir and travelogue.”
The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/Cutted-Chicken-Shanghai-Sharon-Winters/dp/1481931512
To connect with Sharon and learn more about her work, visit: https://SharonWinters.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.
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