My love of story and storytelling began early. I come from a family rich in character and we all love to share our stories when we gather together. But there is one gentle soul in particular whose stories sparked in me a true appreciation of the power of story.
Mr. Grey and my father shared a love of raising exotic birds. Many Sunday afternoons were spent at his home in the country in
When our oldest child was a toddler, I began reading to her at bedtime. We quickly ran out of books and I began making up stories on the spur of the moment. It wasn't long before my husband would stop whatever he was doing and come listen too. Our daughter would ask for the same stories over and over again, but each time I told them, they were slightly different. My husband encouraged me to write the stories down.
Thus began a journey that would take me from novice to published writer. I have taken various writing courses over the years, been a member of writing groups, as well as attending workshops and conferences. I've been blessed to have received support and encouragement along the way.
The joy of receiving my first acceptance letter and then finally seeing my story in print with my by-line are memories that I treasure. I have gone on to have stories and articles published in children's magazines such as Kids World, Hopscotch and On the Line. For a period of time I was the publication assistant for the Denwood Dispatch as well as serving as their reporter/photographer. During that time I continued to freelance and had articles published in Alberta Diver and the Wainwright Star Chronicle.
For two years I wrote a bi-weekly column for the Vermilion and Area Crisis Line which appeared in both the Vermilion Standard and the Wainwright Star Chronicle.
Then in the fall of 2000, my husband retired with 25 years of service in the Canadian Army after being offered a contract to work in Maui. He and I, along with our three children moved to