About Me
A writer-illustrator, I have a master’s degree in English and ghostwrite non-fiction books, with my most recent, Pathway to the Stars: 100 Years of the Royal Canadian Air Force and children’s version, Aviation Nation, published in 2024. In fiction, my MG fantasy, OTHERWORLD, was longlisted for the WriteMentor Children’s Novel Award and CANSCAIP’s Writing for Children Competition. I was a mentee in the Write Team Mentorship Program. An interview about that experience can be read here.
As a kid, I always had my nose stuck in a book. My love of reading led to an English degree and I received my Masters in Lit from the University of Waterloo. Realizing I needed to make money, I transitioned into marketing communications and became a ghostwriter of visionary books and blogs for C-level executives. In my career, I have worked across industries for both startups and global companies, freelanced as a consultant, and taught Marketing Management for the MBA program at Wilfrid Laurier University.
In the mid 2000s, I traveled to Middle Earth (New Zealand) and worked in marketing to conserve the unique biodiversity of a kauri rainforest. After a couple of years, I returned to Canada with a husband, a dog, and a baby. When I’m not reading or writing, chances are good that I’m out walking my dogs or on some adventure with my family.
My favorite kid-lit authors are Richard Adams, C.S. Lewis, Beatrix Potter, Lloyd Alexander, Jaclyn Moriarty, Kate Milford, Kelly Barnhill, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Diana Wynne Jones, BB Alston, Terry Pratchett, Louisa May Alcott, E. L. Konigsburg, Elizabeth Enright, E.B. White, Enid Blyton, and J.R.R. Tolkein. Reading Karina Yan Glaser’s Vanderbeekers books make me very happy, probably because they remind me of curling up in front of the fire nose-deep in one the classics—most of which I’ve read and reread throughout my life. I would never say no to Babar, Eloise, or Madeline, either.
Some of my favorite adult fiction authors include Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, Martin Amis, Patrick deWitt, Jeanette Winterson, Ray Bradbury, Patrick Rothfus, Ursula K. Le Guin, J.D. Salinger, and Jane Austin. I’m blessed to belong to two writers’ groups, and I thank the stars every night for the wonderful women in Top Tier and iMaGineers. I don’t know what I’d do without y’all. I’m also a member of SCBWI Canada East.
Little known facts about me: Music is my other love, I worked as a DJ both at the campus radio station and a nightclub (Shoe-gazing, guitar-fuzzy Britpop is my jam); I have helped place over 200 rescue dogs; and with enough coaxing (and wine), I do a mean Elvis impersonation (uh-huh-huh).