Sometimes, people ask, "when did you start writing and telling stories?" Or, "when did you start painting?" I made stories almost as soon as I learned to talk. Once I leaned how a pencil - or crayon - could make words or draw pictures, I never stopped. I learned to read early, and soon went through all my parents books and magazines. As a kid, I hid books all over the house, so no matter where I was , I could disappear into a magical world someone else had created.
I studied Art and English in high school, then majored in Visual Art and English Literature and completed a Double Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Western Ontario. Afterwards, I completed double specialist in Visual Art and English Language and earned a Bachelor of Education at The University of Toronto.
I taught High School Visual Art and English and acquired a Master's of Education in Curriculum Design from Brock University. I took extra courses in Special Education and Literacy. I've continued to take courses in both Creative Writing and the Arts through the years. It's essential to keep learning - especially in our rapidly changing world.
Early on, my family lived on the outskirts of a small town, then later we moved to a small fruit farm. We shared a rustic cabin in the northern woods on a small lake with my grandparents. Those things are huge influences in my writing. My parents were fantastic role models. My best inspiration comes when I am in quiet, rural settings - and then the words and pictures flow like magic!
'The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.' Pablo Picasso
WORDS - I write in a variety of styles and genres. As a high school student, I wrote for the Beamsville Express, St. Catharines Standard and the Niagara Advance. I've been published in the Lake Report, in on line publications in Canada and the US, and in several anthologies. I've done public readings in school classrooms, at the Niagara Falls Public Library, the St. Catharines Public Library, the NOTL Strawberry Festival and other local venues.
December 2022- 'All She Wanted for Christmas' published by CommuterLit e-magazine
2022 - Winner Muskoka Novel Marathon with YA novel, 'Rainbow Fire.'
2020 - Winner Muskoka Novel Marathon with YA Novel 'The Sound of a Rainbow' (to be published by Latitude 46 in 2023)
2019- 2nd Place Rotary Stratford Writers Festival, Fiction 'Twelve Stops to Airport'
2019 - Short List Non Fiction Eden Mills Writers Festival 'Just a Cuppa Coffee'
2019 Winner Muskoka Novel Marathon with YA Novel ' A Chain of Broken Hearts'
Non-Fiction: 2019 International NOWW Creative Non-Fiction Shortlist 'Just a Cuppa Coffee'
2019 - South Simcoe Arts Festival Fiction Winner 'Moonlight with Tom Thomson'
Fiction: 2018 - EMWF Fringe Festival Winner - 'Fairy Castle in the West'
Poetry: 2018 - Canadian Author's Niagara Branch, The Bannister, 'Modern Love'
Fiction/Non-Fiction/Poetry - Rising Spirits NOTL Writers Circle Contests, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
National Award (USA) 2014 in online publication Stage of Life with 'Stepping into a Lifetime' Personal Essay
CommuterLit - frequently published
EDITOR
2019 - Fifteen Stories High - Anthology for Canadian Authors Association Niagara Branch
2018 - Ten Stories High - Anthology for Canadian Authors Association Niagara Branch