Available for order - my newest book of poems, Family Reunion
A BRIEF BIO
The world of words has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. As a kid, whenever Mom needed me for a job, it was an almost sure thing she’d find me between the covers of a book.
During high school I earned my first publishing credits in The Western Producer - “Young Co-operator’s Page.” I decided then that someday I would like to be a writer.
Though I wrote very little for public consumption in the years that followed - through Bible School, university, teaching, miscellaneous jobs, marriage, the arrival of two children, homemaking and running my home-based medical transcription business - I continued to write privately, journal upon journal. It was my way of processing life and book-marking God’s dealings with me.
In 1995, one year from a landmark birthday, I realized that unless I put some muscle into developing writing skills, my childhood fantasy of working as a writer would remain just that. By the year’s end I had enrolled in a correspondence course and in March 1997 sold my first children’s story to Keys for Kids.
My husband and I live in metro Vancouver, BC. One of our favorite places is our home church Christian Life Assembly in Langley B.C.
We have two young-adult children who are both living away from home.
Besides writing I enjoy gardening, nature and bird watching, traveling and reading.
- January 14, 2009: A poem I entered in The Ontario Poetry Society competition "Open Heart For Poetry Competition" was one 19 to place in over 260 entries. My winning poem, "To Mother" will be included in a chapbook of winning poems.
- October 31, 2008: The poem "His Name" won an Honorable Mention in the Utmost Christian Writers Canadian Site winter contest on the theme "Where Is God?"
- June 11, 2008: My story "Jason's Picnic" published in Primary Treasure September 22, 2007 won the Word Guild 2008 Canadian Christian Writing Award in the Article - Children & Young Adult category. Complete list of winners here.
- April 12, 2008: My poem "The Prodigal's Things" won a merit award in the 2008 Utmost Christian Poetry Contest. Complete list of winners with links to some of the winning poems here
- March 12, 2008: A big welcome to Liam Walter Spooner - I am now a Grandma!
- November 2007: I joined The Word Guild - an organization that networks and supports Christian writers across Canada.
- September 28 & 29, 2007: On Friday, September 28th, Family Reunion will be part of a book launch event. Saturday, the 29th I will be presenting two poetry workshops. Both of these events are in conjunction with the Inscribe Fall Conference in Edmonton, Alberta.
- July 10, 2007: I will again be part of the Blue Moon poetry Reading series as a member of the MSA Poets Potpourri Society (July 10, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Clearbrook Library - 32320 George Ferguson Way, Abbotsford, B.C.).
- June 13, 2007: Winner of two The Word Guild 2007 Awards in the "Children and Young Adult - Article" category and the "Review" category. The Winners were announced at an award gala on June 13 in Toronto.
- May 21, 2007: I will be reading from Family Reunion and talking to the Fraser Valley Christian Writers Group about using the internet for writing (7:15 p.m. Alliance Manor Lodge).
- May 2007: Pieces I wrote have been shortlisted in the categories of Personal Experience Article, Column Series and Poetry, 2007 The Word Guild 2007 Awards.
- April 2007: my poem "Converting to Childhood" won a merit award in the 2007 Utmost Christian Writers Poetry Contest.
- March 2007: The poem "Some Words" was chosen, by reader vote, to appear in the second annual 'Best of' books published by Infuze Magazine.
- March 2007: Two poems have been accepted by Mark Gilroy Communications Inc. for inclusion in book compilations. "Mrs. Beasley Packed Her Purse" will be in The Bad Hair Day. "A Christmas Poem" will be in A Christmas Wonderland.
February 2007: My second book of poems, Family Reunion is now out. Find out how to get a copy here.
- May 2006: Two pieces submitted to the The Word Guild 2006 Awards have made the short list in their respective categories.
- April 2006: I was appointed Utmost International Christian Poet Laureate.
- April 2006: The poem "Wisdom of the Scarecrow" won honorable mention in the 2006 Utmost Christian Writers Poetry Contest.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
I have had articles, poems, stories and activities published in a variety of magazines, take-home papers and web sites including Guide, Keys for Kids, On the Line, Pockets, Clubhouse Magazine and others.
