Sharon Albin

Sharon Albin has called Telluride home since 1948, witnessing firsthand the transformation of a

rugged mining camp into the world-renowned mountain town it is today. A lifelong student of

local history, Sharon began interviewing old-timers in the 1970s, collecting courthouse records,

newspaper clippings, photographs, and firsthand accounts to preserve the stories many preferred

to forget.

In her first book, Ten Shades of Red, Sharon brings to life Telluride’s “Shady Ladies,” miners,

madams, and mischief-makers—revealing a past layered with grit, scandal, generosity,

heartbreak, and resilience. With a deep respect for history as it was truly lived, Sharon weaves

fact, folklore, and family memory into a vivid portrait of the town’s red-light district and the

women who helped shape its character.

A former Combined Court Clerk, civic leader, and community volunteer, Sharon’s life has been

intertwined with Telluride’s legal, cultural, and social evolution for more than seven decades.

She lives in Colorado with her husband of over sixty years and remains devoted to preserving the

stories that give mountain towns their heartbeat.