Firefighters, lawyers, and engineers were among the speakers at RHSa�� annual career day on Feb. 27. One of the speakers was freelance writer Sharon Allen Gilder, who spoke to Lindsey Junkins’ math classes.

A Montgomery County native, Gilder, who is now a freelance writer, graduated from Wheaton HS. She attended what was Towson State College, now Towson University, for a year before transferring to the University of Maryland, since Towson didn’t have her major. She graduated with a degree in home economics education in 1972.

Gilder student-taught at Woodward HS in Bethesda in the spring of 1972, before being hired as a full time teacher and teaching there until 1980. Gilder also made an appearance on the famed show “Wheel of Fortune” in 1984.

Gilder published her novel “The Rose Beyond” in 2014. The historical romance takes place in 1897 in Washington, D.C., with some connections to Whales and the U.K.

“My main focus in writing my novel was enjoyment, to have the book in the hands of readers,” Gilder said.

As a new writer, Gilder had many doubts and concerns along the way, but she credits her husband, Mark Alan Gilder, for keeping her motivated.

“Don’t worry about the “what if’sa��; write the novel for you,”was the advice her husband shared with her, Gilder said. Eager to have all of her hard work pay off, Gilder self-published her novel through Amazon in 2014.

In addition to writing her novel, Gilder is also an accomplished freelance writer who has interviewed many Montgomery County “celebrities.” Gilder once interviewed the Potomac native Margaret Durante, better known as Maggie Rose, who is a rising country music star in Nashville. Gilder has also interviewed Gaithersburg residents Steven Campbell and Barry Worthington.Campbell works in New York for Bravo, and Worthington is an independent filmmaker.

Gilder always knew she wanted to be a writer. She even set up a library as kid in her basement with friends.

“My love of writing, reading, and books has been a common thread throughout my life,” Gilder said.

Fans can easily contact Gilder since she is a frequent user of social media, with a Twitter account and three Facebook pages: A personal page, an author page and her book page.

Gilder encouraged students to constantly network and talk to people, as this skill has helped her become the successful freelance writer she is today.