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In Australia
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Rec. Retail in Australia
AUD $34.95
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The Inconvenient Child
A True Story
The True Story of an Abandoned Australian Child’s Struggle to Survive Childhood and Find her African-American Father.
An unacceptable liaison, a secret birth, a mother’s silence, and her black child’s journey to discover the truth…
It is 1948, Sydney, Australia. Pretty, blonde Grace discovers she is pregnant to a black merchant marine who has sailed back to America. The White Australia Policy is in place and society’s judgment matters; so what will Grace do with this baby?
This is the extraordinary true life story of Sharyn Killens - The Inconvenient Child.
Rescued from squalid foster care by visiting champion African-American boxer Freddie Dawson, the baby Sharyn is taken to live in a party house in Sydney’s red light district of Kings Cross. Her absent, elegant mother then abandons her in a convent–orphanage, at age five.
By fifteen, discrimination within her family, resentment and clashes over her father’s undisclosed identity see the troubled teenager running away to the streets of Kings Cross where she’s arrested and sentenced to notorious juvenile detention centres in Parramatta and Hay.
Sharyn’s solace is her love of music but can she realize her dream to become a singer if, by twenty-four, she is caught up in the Kings Cross lifestyle?
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Determined to find her African-American father, Sharyn sets out in search of her roots; a quest taking her across the world and eventually to America’s Deep South. But will she find the loving family and belonging she has yearned for all her life? More Information ...
CLICK HERE to WATCH ABC TV 7.30 REPORT
What readers are saying...
“I have just completed reading the best book I have ever read. It was so moving, I cried through out the book. Sharyn, your book stole my heart and you are amazing how you look at life, just goes to show, love makes the world go round. So happy you found your roots and loving family in America. You go girl!!!” Elly Stern – Gold Coast, Queensland
“Wow....after reading your book I knew coming to your Authors’ talk would be amazing but I didn't realise how moved I would be! I have raved and ranted about the talk (and of course the book). I know the word inspirational comes up so often when I have read comments about you Sharyn and it really is the ultimate word to sum you up! I just wanted to say what an honour it was to meet not only you, but Lindsay as well and reading your book just reinforces the happy life that I am so blessed to be living.” Kellie Dunbar – Bathurst, NSW
“It was great to meet you and Lindsay and hear your story in person. Three of us at work have since bought autographed copies of your book. Good luck with the rest of your book tour, I am sure it will have just as great a response.” Michael Bushell - Forbes Advocate
“Never have I been to an event where everyone was crying. There was not a dry eye to be seen and the singing was beautiful. Everyone in the whole place stopped what they were doing and listened. What two incredibly talented women with an important story to tell.” Sally – Orange, NSW
“Many thanks to you both for a great evening in Bathurst and for giving BooksPlus the opportunity to be involved. I love the connections that book brings out and you made a room full of them. Congratulations!” Kathryn Bancroft – BooksPlus, Bathurst
“What a fantastic book. I read it to my husband while we were on holiday. We feel like everyone else & need to give you a big hug. Then when you meet your we family we wanted to cry & laugh with you, that was so good.” Dianne Suey - City Sider Motel Tamworth, NSW
“What a great choice you made to publish this book. Trudging through the trash at the newsagents in the airport, thankfully, I came upon this awesome and unsettling story. Certainly, Sharyn is a woman of true character.” Carolyn Tillie – Melbourne
“I was the crying girl at (your author talk) at Mona Vale Library. Since then I have actually found my great, great grandfather who was born in South Carolina in 1856!!!! I am so excited and knew I had a connection to indigenous people somewhere. I can't wait to find out more. Thanks for giving me a push.” Suzanne Barber – North Balgowlah, NSW
"Every so often, a story comes along that shakes you to the core, then uplifts and inspires you in a way that only stories of true heroism can. The Inconvenient Child is such a story."
Victoria Ugarte, Postcards From Millie - Clovelly NSW
“I have read The Inconvenient Child. What a book! I loved it. There were plenty of tears, so much sadness but then there was Joy when Sharyn met her beautiful family. I wish her heaps of good wishes. She is such a lovely warm person.” Patricia Falco – Coffs Harbour, NSW
“Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. How does she keep going - what a tough lady and how lucky they are good friends, to help bring this story to our attention. Rudd was right to apologise to foster children, it is unbelievable what they went through.” Beth – Orange, NSW
“I went through the wine and the Kleenex as I finished this amazing book. Good on you for telling the story and absolute admiration to Sharyn for living and surviving. I pray she has many good years with her wonderful Allan. I was so moved that I used parts of it in a speech at my Toastmasters Club. I titled my speech “Triumph of the Spirit”. Many of the members are in Book Clubs and are going to buy and recommend the book. And nearly all came over and wrote down the website and some who I had already told about it had looked it up on YouTube. Love and biggest hugs to both of you.”
Gloria Carter - Rose Bay, NSW
“I have just finished reading 'The Inconvenient Child'... what an AMAZING book! I do have one criticism though... how on earth am I to find another biography to follow this one???
So many elements of Sharon's story touched my heart. As an avid reader of biographies, this was definitely the best one I've read in a long, long time ... heartfelt, raw and honest, this book had it all and was very hard to put down (but as a Mother of three boys under 7, I had to!!!). I will definitely recommend this book to others and especially my Mother who was born in Sydney in 1942.”
Jenni O’Brien - Kotara, NSW
“Sharyn my husband first read your book and said to me I think you will like this. Naturally I read it in 48 hours. Sharyn you are wonderful amazing my hero how superb are you! Poor Darling what one human being had to endure but not anymore! My 3 kids have read your book, magnificent, you are great and I wish you a long happy and prosperous life with your beautiful children and Family.” Sharon Sharpe - Double Bay, NSW
“Congratulations Sharyn and Lindsay, what an incredible journey of both the living and the telling! You are such an amazing woman of inspirational courage and strength of character! This is a life that needed to be written as the spoken word in conversation, cannot convey what truly happened without compromising intricate nuances and background that I found just as relevant as the events themselves. You not only survived but shone brilliantly! I felt for you every step of the way as the pages turned. Well done!”
Helena Brewer on the yacht 'Oceandeep’, cruising the Whitsundays, Queensland
“I have just completed reading your amazing story. As I began your journey I could not believe what you endured as a child, as a baby...then as a woman...I feel thankful that I have been able to share your story. It made me cry, it confused me, it made me stop reading as I got up and hugged my boys and told my partner how much I love him. Sharyn I wish you nothing but love and happiness for all your days ahead, you truly deserve it! Always remember, you are a woman of substance...God bless you and your family. Your book has touched me and will always be a reminder to me how important it is to let those close - know how much they are loved”
Nikki Coulson - Point Cook Melbourne
“My friend and I attended Coffs Harbour library last week and listened to your story. Being one of the few younger ones there I just wanted to say how touched and inspired I was that night. It was very inspiring to listen to such a strong woman tell her life story and I want to say again... thank you so much for sharing it with us. All the best for the success of your book... the tears are still flowing. I both can and can't wait, to get to the last chapters!” Nicole Hess - Coffs Harbour, NSW
“Please pass on my most heart felt wishes to the authors of this beautiful book, despite some of the most hideous reading. I wept tears of joy, sadness and at times despair for you. I have the most incredible admiration for Sharyn and her life, but with such a bright future now with a family that truly loves her. Keep safe and look to your bright future!” Dawn Tsoubos – Albany Creek, QLD
“I have just bought this book today, and finished it tonight - I could not put it down. A very heartwarming, albeit shocking at times, book. I hope Sharyn is well.” Cath Hyam - Maroubra NSW
“I just want to say I have just read The Inconvenient Child. It has really inspired me to keep going. I thought I had a rough upbringing and hard life as a child, but it wasn't anything like Sharyn and others had to go through. I just want to thank Sharyn for her story and I now am going to try and be more positive and try and forget or maybe put my past behind me? Thank you again Sharyn, I am so pleased you have now found happiness...Godbless.”
Sharron Wood - Te Awamutu, North Island, New Zealand
“I bought the book the day it was reviewed in the Melbourne Herald Sun. I started to read it and could not put it down. On reading the book I cried for you (and me), I really felt for you. I am so happy that you finally found your family. I read the book in one day, it is a fantastic read. The very best of good wishes and thank you.” Di Rogers - Sunshine, Victoria
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