I've always been creative, and up until a few years back, I created a lot of visual art items, paintings, photographs, prints, etc. I realised they took up too much room, writing, on the other hand, I could store away on websites. All of a sudden, I had a new outlet for my creativity. My main story device is a character called Janey, a feisty teen with spirit and a touch of angst. Her history project becomes a bigger thing than she thought, and carries with it a gathering of wisdom and values. The story goes on from there in my mind, and, oh well, we get to follow her on as life takes various twists and turns into adulthood. Janey defends herself, learns a bunch of fascinating things along the way, and oh yes, she falls in love...

It seemed logical, I wanted to make a statement about being strong, defending yourself, having resilience and a whole heap more. I recalled the various girls I worked with as well as students at school, and Janey came to mind, someone who has an attitude but the ability to learn, and make her way in the world.

My passion started when I was a teenager, lessened when I was single and working long hours and re-started after a traumatic experience as one of many mental health tools to overcome the guilt and grief. Upon retirement, I joined a writing group, Women of Words (WoWs), where I was strongly encouraged to write and publish a book about my experiences based on the many journals I had written throughout the years. In late 2019, I was offered a scholarship with the Thriving Authors Academy (TAA) with author and writing coach Dallas Woodburn from California. I continued with TAA for 18 wonderful months and I learned a lot. There I found a community of writers who offered each other companionship, advice and support. A worthwhile adventure for sure and I highly recommend Dallas as a book doula. (Dallaswoodburn.com)

As a civilian employee, I gave thirty-five years of my life to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At the end of my career, after experiencing both personal and professional traumas, I found myself diagnosed with moderate-to-severe PTSD. Through years of seeking the psychological help I needed, I finally understood that my traumas had led me to Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). PTG was transformative and brought renewed growth after adversity. I turned towards altruism, opened up to new experiences, became spiritually mature and embraced gratitude for the life I now live, saying, “Without these challenges, I may not be the person I am proud to be today.” Healing from the immense grief and guilt led me to accept that life’s adversities are indeed life lessons. My cancer diagnosis led to a healthier lifestyle. Addressing sexual harassment in the workplace brought validation and restored my confidence. Most importantly, I recognized that anxiety can be controlled by a shift to positive thinking.

I always enjoyed books by Dr. Suess, C.S. Lewis, and J R R Tolkien, and I thought maybe I could do it. I took a correspendence class in writing children's stories. I learned it is not easy.

That's not a question with an easy answer. I suppose my writing most resembles Dr. Suess, but they all had in influence on my writing. I also took some ideas frank Baum author of the Wizard of Oz.

I have an overactive imagination, it has caused me issues in the past with my mental health. Writing allows me to focus it into something productive and fun

The last book I published was a sequel to my debut novel, it’s a whodunnit murder mystery, where the villain is hiding in plain sight and it lets the reader figure it out as they go through it

The need to express myself because my voice had been stifled for years.

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry is the second book in a five-book poetry series. I wrote the poems from 2000-2003, a tumultuous time in my life with relationship issues yet a celebration of travel and nature. I have not rewritten these poems because I want the readers to see my evolution as a writer from 1986 (the first book) to 2025 and beyond (the last one).

I’ve always been fascinated by stories—the way they can transport us to different worlds, explore human emotions, and spark the imagination. Writing started as a way for me to give life to the ideas and worlds that kept unfolding in my mind. Over time, it became more than just a personal outlet; it became a way to connect with readers, share experiences, and explore themes that resonate with people. In short, my inspiration comes from a mix of curiosity, imagination, and the desire to communicate ideas in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

My latest book, The Battle of the Red Land, is a fantasy epic set in the mystical world of Bindakia. It follows the journey of heroes, strategists, and warriors as they navigate war, intrigue, and personal challenges in a land on the brink of chaos. The story combines thrilling battles, complex characters, and deep philosophical themes about leadership, sacrifice, and destiny. I wanted to create a world that feels immersive and alive, where readers can experience both the intensity of the battlefield and the intricate emotions of the characters. Ultimately, it’s a story about courage, strategy, and the bonds that hold people—and nations—together.

Having the ability to spin a yarn is something I've been more than capable of from an early age. So, the next step towards writing was inevitable.

Eyes Over Earth Book One highlights the fictional journey of a middle-aged man, Jim Ignatius Wilson, and his family, Stella Marie, and their son, Timothy Wilson. After a close encounter with a benevolent alien, Rogand. Who endows Jim with a remnant species from a dead world, microscopic symbiotes. Together, he and Syman, the collective, embark on a mission to help Earth move into a golden era of advancement. Including a secret plan to stop overpopulation.

I began writing when I retired. It was something I'd always enjoyed, but up to that point, most of my writing had been for academic assignments or work-related reports.

My latest book is called Jocasta Bradman Investigates A Regency Mystery. This is book five in my series of amusing, paranormal, historical mysteries. It's set in both 1932 and 1817 and is a haunted house mystery involving a Regency love story. Jocasta Bradman is a talented spiritual medium whom I adore writing about. I love her character.

As a parent, I wanted to be able to make sure that I could allow others to feel the grief, the love, the support, and the ability to grow and inspire with each child. It's a miracle and a wonderful thing.

I'm extremely happy to announce this book and be able to help inspire others and to help them move forward. No parenting is a wonderful thing, and it's a miracle of life, and hopefully, this gives a little bit of that back to supporting each other.

I’ve always loved creative writing, but one day, while reading a novel, I stumbled across a glaring factual error—one that a bit of research could have easily prevented. That’s when my inner voice spoke up: Do you think you could do better? My answer was "Well, yeah. Maybe." I buckled down and started my first novel that same day.

My new Celtic romantasy is K9 Mine, the tale of an aspiring K9 officer who catches a faery in his kitchen, turning his life upside down. As a diehard animal lover with a special soft spot for working dogs, Travis and Saoirse's story is near and dear to my heart.