At 80 years old, Sharon Storrs is more than an author—she is a bridge between the past and the present. A retired teacher, historian, and lifelong storyteller, Storrs has captured the spirit of an entire generation in her historical novel, Return to Me. Far from being just another wartime drama, her work offers a sweeping, emotional portrait of World War II—not from the distant gaze of generals and politicians, but through the hearts of those who lived through the devastation.
Storrs’ sweeping novel traverses all five major fronts of World War II—European, North African, Italian, China-Burma, and Soviet-Axis—offering a panoramic view of a world at war. At its core are deeply human, interconnected love stories, each marked by separation, sacrifice, and the aching uncertainty that comes with wartime duty. Through vivid historical detail and emotional depth, the narrative captures the personal cost of global conflict. As characters fight on distant battlefields and write letters filled with longing, one question echoes across every chapter and every heart: Will they return? The novel is a tribute to resilience, love, and the endurance of hope.
When asked what first inspired her to write the book, Storrs smiles and says, “I’ve always been fascinated with history—not just the big leaders like Roosevelt, Churchill, Hitler, or Stalin, but the everyday people who stood quietly in the shadow of history, doing their part without ever making the headlines.” This blend of intimate and epic is what makes Return to Me a standout.
The novel’s roots run deep into Storrs’ own family history. Her aunt served as a nurse in Europe, while her father’s childhood fall from a horse—an incident that profoundly impacted his life—found its way into the narrative. Even the opening scene, involving an urgent, precarious birth, is inspired by Sharon’s own dramatic entrance into the world. “I wanted it to feel real because it was real,” she explains. “These stories lived in my blood.”
Originally titled Whispering Willows, the book experienced a profound evolution during its creation. As the story deepened and the characters came to life, author Sharon Storrs felt a new title was needed—one that captured the emotional intensity at its core. Return to Me emerged as the perfect fit, carrying a sense of urgency, longing, and resilience. It speaks to the aching heartbeat of lovers, soldiers, and families torn apart by war, yet bound by hope. “It’s really about the pull to come back,” Sharon explains. “Back to love, back to faith, back to who we are—our truest, most enduring selves.”
But Sharon’s work doesn’t stop at storytelling. She is on a mission. During our conversation, her tone sharpened when discussing modern attitudes toward history. “It broke my heart when I realized I was the only one saying the Pledge of Allegiance while subbing at a school,” she recalls. “There’s a disconnect happening between young people and the sacrifices that built their freedoms.”
Sharon hopes that Return to Me will make its way into classrooms across the United States, believing that literature holds the power to reach students on a deeper level than traditional textbooks. “If students can feel history, they’ll remember it forever,” she explains, emphasizing emotional connection as a key to lasting understanding. Her creative work doesn’t stop there—she is currently writing The Last Song, a heartfelt memoir about her years performing professionally with her sisters.
This upcoming book will honor the unbreakable bond of family and the role music played in their lives. “It’s time I honored that chapter,” she says.In addition, Sharon dreams of expanding Return to Me into a larger saga. A potential sequel could follow the next generation—those who came of age during the Korean and Vietnam Wars—continuing the legacy of resilience, sacrifice, and love under fire. “Every generation faces its own battles,” she says. “We owe it to them to tell their stories too.”
When asked whether she envisions a film or television adaptation, Sharon’s eyes light up. “I would love that. These stories deserve a wider audience. If Return to Me became a movie or series, it could breathe even more life into the memories of a generation that gave everything.”
What truly sets Sharon Storrs apart is her unwavering reverence for the human spirit. In Return to Me, the backdrop of global conflict never overshadows the individual hopes, fears, and acts of quiet heroism that define her characters. The novel reminds us that history isn’t just dates and battles—it’s about real people, real love, real loss.
Today, Return to Me is available through Amazon and other major platforms, with a dedicated website launching soon to connect readers with exclusive content and insights from Sharon herself.
Because in the end, as Sharon gently reminds us, “We’re all waiting for someone—or something—to return to us.”
