I'm a writer, nature + music lover, pilot, baker, cook, and art creator. My imagination and curiosity have always aligned more with children than adults. In my thirties, I pivoted from a career in aviation to working with kids. Now, in my forties, writing for children is my greatest passion. Since I began writing, I have had one short memoir piece published and won a 2024 Word Award for  Iggy's Voyage:   The     Unlikely Hero. This was particularly meaningful after years of honing my craft through many writing classes and mentoring by editors and writers, including Marjorie Deluca, Deborah Schnitzer, Amanda Le Rougetel, Tiffany Yates Martin, and Marcy Kennedy. I’m fortunate to have a supportive group of writing peers and youth beta readers who’ve cheered me on along the way.

 

I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with my family on an urban acreage. I write while secretly photographing my neighbours (deer—not humans). We have an off-grid cabin on a crystal-clear lake in northwestern Ontario. It's my favourite place I've been, and it inspires many of my stories.

 

I've always loved a challenge. I wrote  Iggy's Voyage:   The     Unlikely Hero for my daughter, who dislikes fantasy stories. For years, her first choice was Rayna Telgemeier and Dana Simpson's graphic novels. She'd read them over and over. I am not skilled enough artistically to attempt a graphic novel, so I challenged myself to write a fantasy novel for middle grade girls who claim they don't like fantasy stories. Girls like my daughter are not looking for dynamic worldbuilding. They want character-driven stories. Adventures are fine if the hero is someone they want to befriend. Then, like my daughter, they'll read it over and over. Iggy is the unconventional hero that these girls are yearning for. 

 

So, what's happening with Iggy's story? The querying for  Iggy's Voyage:   The     Unlikely Hero has begun. The first draft is complete for the second novel in the series, which I am calling THE SAVIOUR. The third and final book has been plotted. While I work on the business end of writing, I'm back to writing and taking classes to strengthen my craft. There's always more to learn.

 

Pop in here often. I'll continue sharing short writing pieces on my blog. My stories are sparked by nature, old myth stories of my dad's, and bring in characters from  Iggy's Voyage:   The     Unlikely Hero. You can get to know Iggy and Liz now, and I hope one day you'll find Iggy's books at your local library or bookstore.

 

Please share any sparks for stories, or if you'd like to chat about my writing. My mind loves sparks. I bet many of you have amazing creative brains, so share away!