-01%20(1).webp)
About
The STORY behind Carousel Publishing
Every story has a beginning, and the Carousel Publishing story began just after the events of September 11, 2001, when serial entrepreneur Sharon Thayer watched her current business collapse as suddenly and surely as the Twin Towers themselves.
With the dust settled and pockets empty, Sharon and her teenage daughter, Jessica, sat down to brainstorm. They wondered if there might be something they could create that would generate income while also bringing a little Christmas magic to families during such a dark and uncertain time. (Continues below)
Sharon Thayer
CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) and Author
Author of:
The Story of Santa's Beard
My Perfect Birthday Wish
A Tooth Fairy Named Mort
To the Ends of the Earth
Wonderfully, Perfectly Unusual!
If You Tell Me, I Can Fly!
Where Dreams are Born, A UT Tyler Story
Early the following morning, Sharon woke with a story exploding in her head. Sitting at her desk and watching the snow fall gently on the mountains outside her window, she began writing the words that flowed like snow from the North Pole onto the paper.
With a dyslexic history of more than forty years of struggling with reading, Sharon was surprised. She had never dreamed of becoming an author. But there it was—a magical story begging to bring joy to little believers and their families.
She spent the next two months visiting childcare centers, marketing her story, "The Story of Santa’s Beard," as a letter from Santa with a snippet of beard folded carefully inside. After busy weeks of sending out Santa letters, Sharon delivered the final batch to the post office just two days before Christmas. The Santa letters brought in enough income to pay her bills and buy small Christmas presents for her children.
Little did she know that the greatest gift—the discovery of a new career—was waiting for her under the tree.
A few years later, as the owner of a nature-based childcare center called Kid Central, Sharon discovered that stories were the perfect place to plant positive messages and words of wisdom for children to discover. Over the next eight years, she filled a file cabinet drawer with stories written during her precious spare moments.
Taking a leap of faith in 2011, Sharon sold Kid Central to become a full-time author, speaker, publisher, and grandmother. The struggles were real, but nothing that fifteen-hour days, encouragement from friends and family, and a steadfast focus on creating magical stories couldn’t overcome.
Today, Sharon Thayer is an award-winning picture book author whose stories celebrate kindness, imagination, nature, and family traditions. Her books have received 17 state, national, and international literary awards and sold more than 80,000 copies.
When asked if awards and sales prove her success, Sharon answers simply: "No. I know I'm successful when families tell me their new tradition is reading "The Story of Santa’s Beard" before bed on Christmas Eve, or reading "A Tooth Fairy Named Mort" the first time a child places a tooth under their pillow. It's all about the magic."
And the story’s ending? Well, you’ll have to wait. There are many more stories still to come before that ending appears. In the meantime, Sharon can often be found hiking life’s trails, searching for her next story—and smiling each time she watches the beautiful snow fall gently on an early November morning.
Our Creative Team
Illustrator
Reuben McHugh
As a child Reuben picked up a passion for illustration from the influences around him; his parents who both went to Art school and his favorite children’s books, mainly Dr. Seuss and Richard Scarry. He studied Art and Design at Bradford and Lincoln Colleges. After leaving college in 1989 Reuben settled into a job in the greetings card industry and it was there that his passion for illustration really took over.
Illustrator of:
A Tooth Fairy Named Mort
To the Ends of the Earth
Wonderfully, Perfectly Unusual
Illustrator
Andrew Smith
Andrew was born in Liverpool and grew up in this abundantly creative city. Discovering he had a talent for drawing, he studied graphic design and gained a degree from Liverpool University. He went on to build a career illustrating greeting cards and more, recently children’s books. Andrew now lives in West Yorkshire, England with his family and enjoys hill walking in his free time.
Illustrator of The backstories:
A Tooth Fairy Named Mort
To the Ends of the Earth
Wonderfully, Perfectly Unusual
Graphic Artist
Jennifer
Swartwood-Walker
Jennifer Swartwood-Walker creator of The Ferrokin graphic novel series, has written and illustrated six books that always sell out at conventions. Known for blending fine art, science, and history, she's now working on the Devour series for Theory Comics. In addition to her own projects, Jennifer works as a graphic designer and project manager for various publishers, including this one! Living in Colorado with her husband, she's expanding her creative universe with new titles coming in 2025.
Translator
Daniela Herrero
Daniela Herrero is an experienced translator with a passion for stories. With 30 years of expertise and a background in Spanish, English, and Literary Creation, Daniela has translated children's books and poems, always seeking to capture the magic of every word.
Illustrator
Marci Chambers
Marci Haynes Chambers, aka M. Haynes Scott, has been making her living as a professional artist for the past 30 years. Painting holiday windows for retail stores while in Junior High School was her first art income. Marci's art has been featured on posters, books and magazines, steins, clothing, greeting cards and more. She spent her early years on the beach in La Jolla, but has traded the ocean and city life for the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She now lives at 9500 feet on a ranch in South Park with her husband, dog and 3 horses. Working time evolves around her many art clients. Marci spends her free time riding, skiing, doing the endless ranch chores or with her 3 grown children.
Illustrator of: The Story of Santa's Beard
Illustrator, The Backstory
Frank Pryor
This dynamic and versatile freelance illustrator was not born with a pencil in his hand, but cannot remember a time when sketching was not his passion.
A Colorado native and outdoor enthusiast, Frank lives in Denver with his wife and “muse” of 25 years, Yvonne, their four children, and five grandchildren.
Illustrator
Linda Nagy
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Linda has been fascinated with art since childhood. She attended the University of Georgia where she earned BFA and MFA degrees in graphic design. Her career began at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO where she designed greeting cards in watercolor media. Now retired in South Park, Colorado Linda writes and publishes Colorado Nature books.
Illustrator of:
If You Tell Me, I Can Fly!
Graphic Designer (1977-2020)
Jenny Hancey
Note from Sharon: Sadly, Jenny passed away in August of 2020. She was a Colorado native and lived on a small farm in the mountains south of Denver. She was happily married, with one energetic son and was a lover of all animals. She cared for their farm daily, including horses, cats, chickens, geese, and anything else that needed love and care.
Through our nearly 20 years working together she relentlessly pushed me at every level to bring my best to all my projects. Without her, the books you find on this site wouldn't be nearly as magical and wonderful. With every page you turn, the joy she brought to this world lives on.
She is greatly missed.