Born at home on an old dairy farm in North Carolina and raised in a tight-knit country community, Ellie Sharp has always been attuned to the harmony between the land, the heart and the home. This history fuels her personal relationships and career mindset, of which she often cites “helping people connect to places and experiences” as the primary mission behind each story she writes. She gets a kick out of pondering how she has indirectly enriched the lives of thousands through her words.

After her first year of high school, Sharp’s family moved to southwest Virginia. She earned a B.S. in Technical & Scientific Communication with a minor in nutrition from James Madison University in 2005 and followed her college sweetheart to Houston upon graduation. Although that particular partnership did not endure, her passion for writing flourished. 

In Texas, Sharp’s writing career began as an intern and editorial assistant at Envy Magazine, covering new restaurants, boutiques, social calendars and events, and as a ghostwriter for medical websites educating would-be patients about cosmetic procedures. She landed her first corporate job as a technical writer in the oil and gas industry and kept one foot in that field for her nearly 13 years in the Bayou City. During that time, she also earned a master’s degree in professional writing and technical communication, completed her first marathon and many halves, got married, and fostered a slew of rescue dogs.

Sharp started freelancing as a food and lifestyle writer/photographer in 2013, with regular bylines in digital and print publications, including Bayou City Magazine, Eater and Edible Houston, as managing editor for Houston Food Finder, contributor to Houston Press, Houstonia and My Table Magazine, and as city editor for ZAGAT Houston. After meeting Kimberly Park at a magazine launch party many years ago and including her clients in countless editorial coverage since, Sharp is honored to join KPC and be part of the team she has long admired and respected. 

Fulfilling a desire to live closer to family and reclaim their youths’ less urban lifestyles, she and her husband relocated to the edge of the mountains in upstate South Carolina in early 2018. They live on fifty quiet acres with their young son and daughter, three dogs and small flocks of sheep and chickens. Her non-writing time is filled with kids, the outdoors and lots of coffee. She is grateful to KPC for allowing her the work/life flexibility to stay home and still “have it all.” Sharp’s writing and publication experience, combined with her passion for food and storytelling, are much-welcomed assets for KPC’s clients and the agency.  

What Ignites Me:

being a mother // chickens zooming to greet me // sheep in the field // historical fiction, food and farming documentaries // sociology podcasts // ethical philosophy // sharp cheddar // extra-dark chocolate // brioche // citrus // super hot chiles // zinnias // daffodils // the scent of fresh roses // drawing out the spark from guests during interviews // lots of details // toes in icy river water // Carolina beaches // Appalachian mountains // reggae // country music legends // folk music // knitting // crocheting // yarn stores // long distance running, especially in the rain // natural beeswax candles // crisp fall mornings // dogs you can spoon