Writing Past
It all began with a special teacher in public school. After years of diaries, assignments and experiements, the shelves surrounding my desk are lined with binders and files containing over a dozen manuscripts. For now, some are collecting dust. Others get attention when an idea strikes and I'm pulled back into them. My early, unpublished titles include: The Golden Toll, Dragon's Dance and Wordsongs, which was my one and only attempt at poetry thus far. In 2009, I won the Muskoka Novel Marathon in the YA category with my novel River Witness, which sits on a shelf awaiting my attention. Marit, my entry in 2011 at the marathon, won the best junior novel award.
Writing Present
Among the collection of manuscripts are a number of story ideas which continue to tickle my spirit. These include a number of junior and YA novels in various stages of development as well as one picture book about my late grandpa and his motorcycle.
At present, I am serving as one of CANSCAIP's Co-membership Chairs and am editing my junior novel (working title: Misjudged), the first draft of which was written during the Muskoka Novel Marathon, 2012. I was tickled after the fact to receive the peer-nominated Spirit Award for the second year in a row.
Writing Future
What does the future hold for me writing-wise? There will be another term at Mable's Fables in the course called Writing for Children II--now with Ted Staunton after the retirement of editor and teacher, Peter Carver. I'm also undergoing a re-evaluation of my goals and overall approach to life as a writer. It's time to shake things up a bit and make some decisions about just what I want and how best to go about seeing this become a reality.
