About MeI'm a Vancouver-born speculative fiction writer, speaker, and creative writing coach. I love connecting with readers and writers, especially the next + read more generation of young storytellers, and welcome inquiries from event planners both at home and abroad.

Look for alt-reality and futuristic versions of Metro-Van & other BC locations in most of my work, often with a climate fiction edge. I've written award-winning, translated, indie, and traditionally-published short stories and I'm currently working my way through the celebrated YA fantasy series THREADS OF DREAMS.

Notably, I was a guest speaker at the first ORCHIDS Children's Literature Fest in Mumbai, a creative writing coach with Creative Writing for Children Society, and currently serve on the CWILL BC executive. Show Less

My Work Speaker Info Contact Me

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You May Know Me For:

Literature Types
• YA Fiction

Published WorksBLIND THE EYES (Threads of Dreams 1), 2018: A haunted teen finds the strength to fight back. Climate crisis meets folkloric monsters in dystopian future Vancouver. Page Turner Awards 2020 eBook Award Shortlisted, Barnes & Noble Press "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018"

LETTER FROM THE END OF THE WORLD (Threads of Dreams 0.1), 2019: A villain origin story of a climate warrior turned corporate spy in the final days of pre-flood Vancouver. Released by Virgibooks, Inc. in translation as LETTERA DALLA FINE DEL MONDO.

THE UNSOUGHT LIGHT, 2019: Japanese legend THE MAIDEN OF UNAI retold with a Gothic twist.

ON THE EDGE, Enchanted Conversation: A Fairytale Magazine, 2019: Dark fantasy/fairytale travel story of escaping adulthood and hunting magic in historic sites across the UK. Also licensed by Frozen Wavelets by The Earthian Hivemind, 2020.

A SONG OF DARK THINGS, Fiction-Atlas Press, 2019: dark fantasy/fairytale retelling of Scottish folktales THE FIDDLERS OF TOMNAHURICH & THOMAS THE RHYMER set in modern-day Highlands & Islands region. First published in the UNKNOWN REALMS anthology from Fiction-Atlas Press.

BLACK THE TIDES (Threads of Dreams 2), 2020: Dreamwalker teens travel from flooded Vancouver to a utopian eco-city in Northern BC while battling sea monsters and the ghosts that haunt them.

BOY WITH NO NAME (Threads of Dreams 1.1), Fiction-Atlas Press, 2020: A squad of dreamwalker teen ecologists fight sea monsters in post-climate crisis Powell River of the future. First published in THE DEVIL YOU KNOW: A FICTION-ATLAS PRESS ANTIHERO ANTHOLOGY

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Speaking InformationI love speaking to readers and the next generation of writers about storytelling, creativity, writing, and resiliency/overcoming challenges and forging your + read more own path.

Past presentation topics have included:
-Writing for Youth (how to get started & why everyone's a writer)
-Pathways to Publishing (indies, small-press, big-5 & business tips)
-Monsters & Magic (speculative fiction, truth & escapism)
-Worldbuilding for Writers (how to create the unknown through strategic questions)
-You're Not Finished (grit, glass ceilings, and chasing dreams)

I'm a confident and engaging speaker with experience in a variety of settings (from one-on-one coaching, small workshops, summer camps and term-length workshops to masterclasses and large-group/auditorium venues).

I'm best with upper elementary through adult audiences (I write YA after all!)

Willing to travel, schedule permitting, and happy to work with organizers to create a custom presentation, workshop, masterclass, etc. based on themes and needs of your event. I prefer to offer dynamic, flexible/topical presentations or workshops with direct audience engagement where possible, but large-group presentations with or without display graphics are also available.

See CWILL-BC guidelines for fees ("Tips" tab above)—also open to working with custom budgets if needed. Show Less

I Will Travel To:
• Virtual presentations & visits
• Vancouver
• Coast
• Lower Mainland
• Gulf and Vancouver Islands
• Thompson Okanagan
• Northern British Columbia
• Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
• Kootenay Rockies
• The Territories
• Canada - beyond BC
• USA
• International

I Present to Age Groups:
• Grades 4-6
• Grades 7-8
• High School
• College / University / Adult

Request Booking Info

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Awards and Recognition:BLIND THE EYES
-Page Turner Awards Shortlisted: 2020 eBook Awards
-Barnes & Noble Press "20 + show more Favorite Indie Books of 2018"
-2018 KWL cover contest, SciFi/Fantasy category shortlist
-NetGalley Most Requested fantasy read
-B&N Press pick for 25 Beach Reads for Your Summer Holiday
-Handpicked as a Summer 2018 B&N Press Presents title

HIDING A PEARL
-First, Law Week Short Story Contest 2004

INCOGNITO
-Second, "It's Happening Here" FVRL Teen Writing Contest 2004

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