My ten-year-old self would never have dreamed that one day I would become either a writer or a teacher. Yet for thirty years I did both. Now I devote my time to writing and being a grandmother.
My first love in life was animals. I was fortunate to get to know the famous primatologist, Dr. Birute Galdikas, while I was earning a degree in archaeology. Thanks to her, I got to go to Borneo, Indonesia several times. As a research assistant I followed orang-utans through the jungle to gather data on their behaviour. It was one of the most important experiences of my life.
During this same time I started writing. I enjoyed it so much I later studied journalism and became a newspaper reporter. My favourite was writing human-interest pieces. When my first child was born I entered the amazing world of children’s books. Soon after I trained to become a Montessori elementary teacher.
A highlight of my teaching career is winning the Governor General’s Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History. A highlight of my writing career is when my novel, Free as a Bird, was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award.
Awards and Nominations:
- 2022 Diamond Willow Awards – Finalist
- 2022 Rocky Mountain Book Awards – Finalist
- 2022 Chocolate Lily Awards – Finalist
- 2021 Silver Birch – Winner
- 2015 Hackmatack Awards – Finalist
- 2012 Saskatchewan Willow Awards – Finalist
- 2011 BC Book Prize – Finalist
- 2011 Canadian Library Association Book Award– Finalist
- 2011 IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities
- 2011 VOYA Top Shelf Award-Finalist
- 2010 Governor General’s Literary Award– Finalist
- 2009 Ontario’s Silver Birch Awards–Finalist
- 2009 Langley Book of the Year Award—Finalist
- CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014
- 2004 Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History – Winner
Additional Recognition:
- BC Book Prizes Author Tour; TD Book Tour-Manitoba; Reading Link Challenge Tour-BC; Hacmatack Author Tour—New Brunswick; Writing Workshop Presenter, Vancouver Public Library; Write It, Read it Camp instructor at the Whistler Public Library; BC Ministry of Education – ERAC List of Recommended Reading
In addition to writing I give school and library presentations on my books, and writing workshops for youth.
