September 18, 2026
I can't remember a time where writing was not a part of my life. While I have been writing professionally for over 20 years, I have been putting pen to paper since I was first able to do so.
I like to share the story of my first real attempt at writing. It happened when I was only eight. My teacher had assigned a writing assigment where I had to compose a paragraph about a country of my choosing. I took the assignment too far. Instead of writing a paragraph, I stayed up half the night pounding away at the typewriter. I wrote a three-page essay on the culture and food of Mexico. I had stolen the reference books from the classroom. When I turned myself and the books into the teacher the next day I also presented the essay to her as my defence as to why I took the books.
Instead of getting in trouble for taking the books without permission, the teacher read my essay to the class. I was then presented to the grade six teacher, who then proceeded to read my essay to the entire grade six class as an example of great writing and what they should all aspire to achieve in their six year of schooling.
I had discovered the power of the written word and I've attempted to harness that power all my life.
