About
I’ve lived in a bunch of places—San Francisco, Pleasanton, Burlingame, Houston, Edmonton, New York, and Boca Raton. I’ve also been fortunate to travel, both before I was married and after. Greece. Italy. Israel. New Zealand. Australia. France. Nepal. Southeast Asia. Thailand.
When I was in the third or fourth grade, we had to write a story based on a square foot of land we marked off in the playground field behind the school. There were low-lying plants with funny bulbous tops, and I wrote a story about The Powderpuff People. The teacher told me I should consider becoming a writer when I grew up. Who knew?
I’ve done different things for work—modelled, worked in retail as a clerk as well as in management, waited tables, did desktop publishing (you must be a certain age to know what I mean), and held a few different positions at banks. While living in New York, I was an extra in the movie The Cotton Club. I made it onto the screen for about four seconds! While I was on set, I met Richard Gere, Fred Gwynn, and Nicholas Cage, who showed up with his little dog to say hi to his uncle Francis Ford Coppola. I’m quite certain none of them remember me.
I’ve always liked reading but didn’t become addicted until my teen years. During the summer before tenth grade, we moved from California to Edmonton, and I had nothing to do and didn’t know anyone. My uncle offered me access to a room in his basement that was filled to the brim with science fiction novels. I cut my sci-fi teeth on Asimov, Heinlein, Clark, and Herbert. Then I discovered fantasy, and read The Hobbit, rapidly followed by The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I couldn’t get enough. I stayed up too late a couple of nights in a row. I read until I had a headache. I was gobsmacked (love this word) and full of the desire to create a similar experience for someone else. That summer I read 116 books. Eventually, I picked up my first Stephen King novel and, wowza, the hook sank a little deeper.
In 1987 I graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts degree. I majored in English and minored in Comparative Literature. (After switching faculties seven - yes seven - times, I thought why not get a degree in something I like doing?) In May of 2014 I received an MFA Creative Writing from University of British Columbia. My thesis project was a collection of short stories. I enjoy writing genre fiction because it allows me to shine a light on things we take for granted, things that are both right and wrong in our world. When presented in a wholly different place, or in the future, or in an alternative history they become more visible.
I currently reside in Edmonton, Alberta with my husband of many years and two Xoloitzcuintle dogs. Our home is on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux , Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux . I acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.
When I was in the third or fourth grade, we had to write a story based on a square foot of land we marked off in the playground field behind the school. There were low-lying plants with funny bulbous tops, and I wrote a story about The Powderpuff People. The teacher told me I should consider becoming a writer when I grew up. Who knew?
I’ve done different things for work—modelled, worked in retail as a clerk as well as in management, waited tables, did desktop publishing (you must be a certain age to know what I mean), and held a few different positions at banks. While living in New York, I was an extra in the movie The Cotton Club. I made it onto the screen for about four seconds! While I was on set, I met Richard Gere, Fred Gwynn, and Nicholas Cage, who showed up with his little dog to say hi to his uncle Francis Ford Coppola. I’m quite certain none of them remember me.
I’ve always liked reading but didn’t become addicted until my teen years. During the summer before tenth grade, we moved from California to Edmonton, and I had nothing to do and didn’t know anyone. My uncle offered me access to a room in his basement that was filled to the brim with science fiction novels. I cut my sci-fi teeth on Asimov, Heinlein, Clark, and Herbert. Then I discovered fantasy, and read The Hobbit, rapidly followed by The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I couldn’t get enough. I stayed up too late a couple of nights in a row. I read until I had a headache. I was gobsmacked (love this word) and full of the desire to create a similar experience for someone else. That summer I read 116 books. Eventually, I picked up my first Stephen King novel and, wowza, the hook sank a little deeper.
In 1987 I graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts degree. I majored in English and minored in Comparative Literature. (After switching faculties seven - yes seven - times, I thought why not get a degree in something I like doing?) In May of 2014 I received an MFA Creative Writing from University of British Columbia. My thesis project was a collection of short stories. I enjoy writing genre fiction because it allows me to shine a light on things we take for granted, things that are both right and wrong in our world. When presented in a wholly different place, or in the future, or in an alternative history they become more visible.
I currently reside in Edmonton, Alberta with my husband of many years and two Xoloitzcuintle dogs. Our home is on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and travelling route to the Cree, Saulteaux , Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux . I acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.
I live in Edmonton, Alberta and spend my time writing, reading, cycling, swimming and eating chocolate.
I’m always on the lookout for the best pair of zombie apocalypse boots.
I’m always on the lookout for the best pair of zombie apocalypse boots.
,,
Publication
Nominated for The Journey Prize and listed as Notable in The Best of American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2015
Issue 4, 2014
Infective Ink January 2014, Short Story: Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo Behind the Yellow Wallpaper New Tales of Madness New Lit Salon
Begining, February 2014
You Can’t Kill Me, I’m Already Dead Anthology Zombie Works
Press Anthology 2014
The Istanbul Review Summer 2012 Poems: icarus and number 11291 Luna Station Quarterly Issue
10 JUN 2012 Medusa Redux little bird stories, edited by Zsuzsi Gartner Little Bird Writing Contest May 2012. Runner up: Forensic Study of an Apple. Honorable
Mention: Adapted Patterns
Filling Station #52 2012 poem-genome project
Filling Station #49 2011 de dry bones
Room Magazine 2010 33.2 poem: the cartographer
10 JUN 2012 Medusa Redux little bird stories, edited by Zsuzsi Gartner Little Bird Writing Contest May 2012. Runner up: Forensic Study of an Apple. Honorable
Mention: Adapted Patterns
Filling Station #52 2012 poem-genome project
Filling Station #49 2011 de dry bones
Room Magazine 2010 33.2 poem: the cartographer
Publications 2012
Got question or just want to say hi? Fire away!
My Collection
It's always hard to choose between best and best of the best books. These ones are just a few top ones, if you like reading have a look what I have to offer.
