: About Me

I am a published author, graphic artist, marketing coordinator and single mother of four boys (whew!) My marriage ended six years ago amidst violence and abuse. It was very difficult on my four boys and I realized I needed to create an income from home. Through blood, sweat and many tears, I launched my own publication and in each issue, I wrote a short "Message from the Publisher". Soon, I began hearing more and more comments from people who enjoyed reading the message as much as reading the publication.

A year later, a mass email crossed my desk requesting stories from women who had experienced and escaped domestic abuse. I mulled it over for a few days and one night at 2am, I sat down and wrote my first autobiographical story. I mailed it away and to my surprise, it was chosen and published.

Meanwhile, I was forced to take a part time job at a local newspaper (my competition) where I pitched the idea of writing a column called "This is Life ... in my house" and was just that ... a column of real life antics; sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always real. Within six months, the newspaper folded and another paper picked up the column. I developed a following over the next nine months before the paper cancelled all paying columnists. Today, I continue to write my column, "This is Life" and regularly send it out to a dedicated email list.

Enjoy!

My passion is ...

The arts.

I know too much about ...

Hard times.

My parents always told me ...

I could do anything.

My childhood ambition ...

Zoologist. Still love animals ...

My favorite memory ...

A gazillion of them! Probably falling in love.

Why I write ...

I have paragraphs rolling around in my head that have to get out.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

I read so much I'd have to update this weekly. Latest book was "The Book of Negroes" by Lawrence Hill

My first job ...

Working at a sub place in the local mall.

My best moment ...

Picking up my very first publication from the printers. Professionally, lauching it was the hardest thing I ever did. My kids and I celebrated with lunch and a movie. It was a fantastically memorable day.

My inspiration ...

My four boys. Hands down.

Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Your child's first day of school

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As I sit here, my emotions are whirling, my stomach is doing flip-flops, a lump is in my throat and I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's the first day of school. Despite that this is my thirteenth year of taking children to their first day of the new school year, I am still not immune to the emotion of it all. My youngest boys have entered grades three and four and long past the separation anxiety . . . for them at least. Each year I surprise myself with the gamut of emotions that I feel walking out of the school and back home to a quiet house. Part of me wants to jump with delight a...

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