Jane Austen! I loved reading her when I was growing up; my stories used to be four pages long, first they involved my family and then I started creating characters.

To be absolutely honest - I haven't written it yet! But I will say it's an intense office romance - I'll be releasing a snippet, a sort of prologue, in December along with my latest newsletter.

What inspired me to start writing was this activist Maya Angelou, and her story behind her and how she emerged into a writer and a performer with being a memoirist and a poet

My latest book is on Amazon; self-publishing is called Unbroken Scars; The Phoenix Arisen. The book is a sacred memoir of survival, transformation, and spiritual resilience. Through poetic storytelling and raw truth, I trace the journey from trauma to transcendence, offering readers a path lit by ritual, advocacy, and fierce compassion. These pages honor the scars that remain and the fire that rises from them.

Certainly not my mastership of the English language. Had I known what my life passion would be I would have paid closer attention in school. As a writer I'm pushed by my imagination, which has been my constant companion throughout my life. It's very proficient in making up intriguing stories whether I do anything with them or not. Eventually it started demanding an outlet. I thought about making movies, but start-up costs were well beyond my reach. Pen and paper, on the other hand, were dirt cheap and that pushed me to take my first step on the path toward the writing craft.

Artificial Intelligence is an ebook only novella that follows twin brothers, builders of fast cars in Atlanta. After work, with all the tools cleaned up and put away, they head upstairs to the apartment they share and engage in their other passion, gaming, more specifically, digital warfare gaming with their 6 man fire team. They play for hours, taking time away from the action for only the basic needs, including sleep. The next day the cycle of creating fast cars and gaming begins again. On a whim the brothers buy PowerBall lottery tickets for a record smashing 4.2 billion dollar jackpot. When the news revealed the winning numbers they had the only winning ticket. One of the members of their fireteam, a local friend spread the word and it went like wildfire. Within an hour an impromptu party broke out in their parking lot. A pickup hauling beer kegs and another pulling a huge smoker grill arrived first and then the people came, many friends, some they hadn't seen in years. They opened up all the bay doors to accommodate a local radio station for their remote broadcast location and shortly after more people arrived. It only took about 24 hours of the constant party to realize that they needed a new place to live and money was no longer a factor. Near Denver a decommissioned ICBM silo has been converted into a high-tech entertainment center, complete with a digital Imax movie theater and performing arts theater, separated by a glittering circular bar. One floor down is the personal visitation lounge with its own smaller movie screen and smaller circular bar. Another floor down in a complete restaurant-quality kitchen. The final floor is an atrium connecting four bedrooms, each with its own digital screen. The DoD computer system that once controlled ICMB launch and guidance has been converted to civilian use and is poised to run everything related to the complex including contracting for all services, contracting with companies of actors and directors, selection of all plays and movies as well as promotions. The site conversion is complete and is being offered for sale. The price would be completely shocking to most buyers.

I've always been creative, and up until a few years back, I created a lot of visual art items, paintings, photographs, prints, etc. I realised they took up too much room, writing, on the other hand, I could store away on websites. All of a sudden, I had a new outlet for my creativity. My main story device is a character called Janey, a feisty teen with spirit and a touch of angst. Her history project becomes a bigger thing than she thought, and carries with it a gathering of wisdom and values. The story goes on from there in my mind, and, oh well, we get to follow her on as life takes various twists and turns into adulthood. Janey defends herself, learns a bunch of fascinating things along the way, and oh yes, she falls in love...

It seemed logical, I wanted to make a statement about being strong, defending yourself, having resilience and a whole heap more. I recalled the various girls I worked with as well as students at school, and Janey came to mind, someone who has an attitude but the ability to learn, and make her way in the world.

My passion started when I was a teenager, lessened when I was single and working long hours and re-started after a traumatic experience as one of many mental health tools to overcome the guilt and grief. Upon retirement, I joined a writing group, Women of Words (WoWs), where I was strongly encouraged to write and publish a book about my experiences based on the many journals I had written throughout the years. In late 2019, I was offered a scholarship with the Thriving Authors Academy (TAA) with author and writing coach Dallas Woodburn from California. I continued with TAA for 18 wonderful months and I learned a lot. There I found a community of writers who offered each other companionship, advice and support. A worthwhile adventure for sure and I highly recommend Dallas as a book doula. (Dallaswoodburn.com)

As a civilian employee, I gave thirty-five years of my life to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At the end of my career, after experiencing both personal and professional traumas, I found myself diagnosed with moderate-to-severe PTSD. Through years of seeking the psychological help I needed, I finally understood that my traumas had led me to Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). PTG was transformative and brought renewed growth after adversity. I turned towards altruism, opened up to new experiences, became spiritually mature and embraced gratitude for the life I now live, saying, “Without these challenges, I may not be the person I am proud to be today.” Healing from the immense grief and guilt led me to accept that life’s adversities are indeed life lessons. My cancer diagnosis led to a healthier lifestyle. Addressing sexual harassment in the workplace brought validation and restored my confidence. Most importantly, I recognized that anxiety can be controlled by a shift to positive thinking.

I always enjoyed books by Dr. Suess, C.S. Lewis, and J R R Tolkien, and I thought maybe I could do it. I took a correspendence class in writing children's stories. I learned it is not easy.

That's not a question with an easy answer. I suppose my writing most resembles Dr. Suess, but they all had in influence on my writing. I also took some ideas frank Baum author of the Wizard of Oz.

I have an overactive imagination, it has caused me issues in the past with my mental health. Writing allows me to focus it into something productive and fun

The last book I published was a sequel to my debut novel, it’s a whodunnit murder mystery, where the villain is hiding in plain sight and it lets the reader figure it out as they go through it

The need to express myself because my voice had been stifled for years.

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life's Journey Through Poetry is the second book in a five-book poetry series. I wrote the poems from 2000-2003, a tumultuous time in my life with relationship issues yet a celebration of travel and nature. I have not rewritten these poems because I want the readers to see my evolution as a writer from 1986 (the first book) to 2025 and beyond (the last one).

I’ve always been fascinated by stories—the way they can transport us to different worlds, explore human emotions, and spark the imagination. Writing started as a way for me to give life to the ideas and worlds that kept unfolding in my mind. Over time, it became more than just a personal outlet; it became a way to connect with readers, share experiences, and explore themes that resonate with people. In short, my inspiration comes from a mix of curiosity, imagination, and the desire to communicate ideas in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

My latest book, The Battle of the Red Land, is a fantasy epic set in the mystical world of Bindakia. It follows the journey of heroes, strategists, and warriors as they navigate war, intrigue, and personal challenges in a land on the brink of chaos. The story combines thrilling battles, complex characters, and deep philosophical themes about leadership, sacrifice, and destiny. I wanted to create a world that feels immersive and alive, where readers can experience both the intensity of the battlefield and the intricate emotions of the characters. Ultimately, it’s a story about courage, strategy, and the bonds that hold people—and nations—together.

Having the ability to spin a yarn is something I've been more than capable of from an early age. So, the next step towards writing was inevitable.

Eyes Over Earth Book One highlights the fictional journey of a middle-aged man, Jim Ignatius Wilson, and his family, Stella Marie, and their son, Timothy Wilson. After a close encounter with a benevolent alien, Rogand. Who endows Jim with a remnant species from a dead world, microscopic symbiotes. Together, he and Syman, the collective, embark on a mission to help Earth move into a golden era of advancement. Including a secret plan to stop overpopulation.