The Golden Songbird

Sheila Frances O'Nions was born on 10 October 1928 in Birmingham, England, UK. She was the daughter of Wilfred O'Nions, a civil servant, and his wife Margaret (Moran) O'Nions. She studied at the Notre Dame Convent at Birkdale, Southport. In 1971, Sheila joined the Southport Writers' Circle. Published in 1975, her debut novel, "The Golden Songbird", won the Netta Muskett award for new writers from the Romantic Novelists' Association, and in 1984, her novel, A Highly Respectable Marriage won the Elizabeth Goudge award. Since 1980, she became the vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and later the thirteenth elected Chairman (1985-1987). Sheila suffered from Alzheimer's disease in her later years. Survived by her husband and their two daughters, she passed away in 20 January 2009, at 80.