The once upon a time version…

I was born in Nanaimo, BC, and grew up in Victoria, BC. My father was an archivist; my mother, a P.E. teacher. I have an older sister and a younger brother. Aside from a few forays here and there, I’ve lived my entire life on the island. Now I work as a full-time writer and editor from my home on the island’s west coast.

I wasn’t much of a student in high school, but was a pretty decent basketball and field hockey player. Amazingly, I did find something to go to university for – outdoor rec! Now I could hike, camp and ski and get a degree out of it! I think it was the paper I had to write on camp cooking that tipped the balance for me, and I finally got serious about doing a biology degree instead. After a bit of fiddling around (including a wonderful trip to India and Nepal) I received my biology from the University of Victoria.

Since then, I’ve been privileged to have some wonderful jobs, including time as an interpreter with Parks Canada, the Public Education Coordinator at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centres, a marine biology teacher on a tall ship, and a naturalist and guide on sailing charters along the west coast from the San Juan and Gulf Islands to South East Alaska. Now, with two kids at home and lots of writing to do, my work is mostly of the BIC variety (that’s Bum In Chair), but I still try to get outside as much as possible, even if it’s just to pick a couple of weeds or get some milk.

I am a member of Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP), Canadian Association of Science Writers, The Writers' Union of Canada (TWUC), Federation of BC Writers, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the Children’s Writers and Illustrators of BC (BC-CWILL).

The Coles Notes version…

Keepin’ Fit: jogging, yoga, hiking, biking, and a bit of flamenco dancing

Keepin’ Fed: fish, seafood, fresh bread, Indian food, and macaroons (the French ones; not a sliver of coconut in sight)

Havin’ Fun: cooking, Boggle and Scrabble, gardening, reading, browsing in thrift shops, travelling

Avoidin’ Work: making lists like this, cleaning my office, weeding, painting rooms

Gettin’ Out: I love to be outdoors hiking, camping, boating (and soon, hopefully, sea kayaking), with my family. I love to travel too. My last trip? My sweet sis took me to Paris.

Keep readin': Always changing. I'll let you in on a few favourites on my blog.

Keep listenin’: My music taste is pretty eclectic – current favourites are Sarah Harmer, Sara Marreiros, the Be Good Tanyas, K’naan, The Clash, Wailin' Jennies, The Waifs, Tom Waits and Van Morrison.