: About Me

I was born in...okay, we don't need to go that far back. Let's just say I was born and move on from there. My earliest remembered writing was a five-page novel, entitled "Angus the Ant," when I was seven years old. I mourn the loss of it somewhere in the mists of time, but I do remember having fun writing it.

My first professional bout of writing was as a cub reporter for The Elliot Lake Standard, a weekly newspaper for a thriving uranium mining community in Northern Ontario. My editor terrified me. He was big and gruff and had a huge black beard that reminded me of Blackbeard the Pirate. When I came back from an assignment, I would try to sneak past his office and make it to my cubicle without his seeing me. But he had the eyes of a hawk and spotted me every time, bawling at me to come into his office and report on my story. I learned to value him though-he taught me how to be a reporter and how to get a great story. My biggest thrill was scooping the daily paper from a nearby city on a breaking story about the town's beloved magistrate.

After the paper and during the following years, I worked intermittently with my writing, selling short stories (Jack & Jill, Parenting Magazine) and freelance news articles (The Calgary Sun, The Mississauga News, The Saskatoon Sun), freelance police articles (Law & Order magazine). Two of my children's short stories were collected into an anthology ("Driftwood," compiled by the executive of the Saskatoon Writers Club), and I won the Saskatoon Writers Club short story Wordsmith first prize for 1993 ("Till Death Do Us Part") as adjudged by that year's Saskatoon Library's Writer in Residence Armin Wiebe. Go here for my hard copy writer's portfolio - http://www.fantasyfic.com/Alex-WritingPort/Short.html

My biggest continuous stint of writing came as news editor and senior editor for online news magazines devoted to online gaming, that is MMORPGs such as Everquest and World of Warcraft. I was senior editor at Warcry...my job there involved editing and doing generous rewrites of every article that hit the hub magazine. At the same time I was the news editor and site manager for the sub-magazines for the two games, Freeworld, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. I subsequently worked in similar capacities at Silky Venom and Ten Ton Hammer. Go here for my online writing portfolio - http://www.twobells.com/Online-portfolio/

In July 2007 I published my fantasy novel, "Witchcanery," which has met with amazing success, since it has been publicized very little due to other events in my life, including getting married again, also in July. However, the five book signings I have been to have surprised the store managers with their success. Now that the book is offered on Amazon.com, I am hoping that sales will increase. Everyone who has read it has called it a "must-read" and a "can't-put-down" book. I hope they are right. You can buy it at my website - FantasyFic - http://www.fantasyfic.com or at Amazon.com.

Currently, I am living in a little town in southeastern Saskatchewan. I have returned to my original roots and am making regular freelance contributions to the town's weekly paper, The Miner-Journal. I love it. I have been averaging between one and two articles a week, with pretty generous pay for a small town paper, plus extra for photographs.

I am also working on my next novel and enjoying my new friends in Esterhazy and my new and old friends online. Additionally, I am teaching a writing class for kids at the local library and planning a course of writing classes at the local high school for next fall. One of the things I did for writers when I was editor to help them out and for the youngsters I am teaching is create a fun grammar and punctuation site. If you want a laugh or a tip, go to Raya's Dungeon - http://www.twobells.com/Writing_Online/rayas-dungeon/Welcome.htm

My new husband and I are in the midst of renovating our new home in our new community. And life is good!

(If you're interested in my writing for you, I write just about anything, from general articles to technical specific, from humor to online gaming. For those looking for my work, I have written under the following names: Sandra Hamilton, Sandra Bell or Sandra Hamilton Bell, Raya, and Sandra Bell Kirchman)

My passion is ...

fantasy fiction, my little Shih Tzu dog, my new life in Esterhazy

I know too much about ...

life in general, positive attitude in particular

My parents always told me ...

they loved me but that I talked too much

My childhood ambition ...

To learn how to do real magic (not just parlor tricks).

My favorite memory ...

My life after death experience when I was five.

Why I write ...

Because it makes me feel good to create out of words.

My first job ...

Cub reporter for The Elliot Lake Standard, Elliot Lake, Ontario

My best moment ...

When my book WITCHCANERY was finally published and the final product was put into my hands. It was like holding a new-born.

My inspiration ...

My tie with the Higher Power in the Universe. It is real and nurturing to me.

Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Fantasy

54 of 191

DRAGON SEARCHING... Lofting hard against the blazing sun Leathery wings wafting the heated air Back draft...motionless in space... Searching Great yellow orbs searching the terrain Espying, dipping lower, discarding Not the goal...not the journey's end... Moving on Spirits sagging, always moving on... Elation dims...low spirits...losing hope Where is he...the last, long-lost one Hovering One final search...hovering o'er desolate plains And there...a blackened figure 'gainst the sand Dipping lower, fearing yet to breathe Hoping Holding back the joy...just hoping for surcease Landing gust as...

More..

• Helium Charter Member