Blog

The Benefits of a Writing Coach
A professional writing coach is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions and receive constructive feedback. They act as a guide as you build your career as a professional writer. A coach can help you conquer a stumbling block, regain momentum or make a start on a new project. My program helps you progress as a writer. You decide what you want to work on during a personalized, one on one relationship. I can be your coach and mentor for just one month or we can establish a month-to-month arrangement, depending on your schedule and...
read moreThe Children’s Writer’s Guide 2
The Children’s Writer’s Guide 2 is ideal for writers not just of books for children and young adults, but also features information that’s applicable to writers in all genres. The first installment of The Children’s Writer’s Guide has a wealth of tips and advice, including suggestions regarding how to get started as a writer, dealing with writer’s block, conducting research, choosing appropriate names for your characters, the editing and revision process, as well as the world of marketing and promotion. This second book further...
read moreLittle Spring Market
This weekend, I’ll be at the Little Spring Market, hosted by the Nose Creek Valley Museum at 1701 Main Street SW in Airdrie. The event runs from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, April 11, so be sure to stop by and say hello. Hope to see you there.
read moreIndies and Oddballs Book Fair
This weekend, I’ll be at the Indies and Oddballs Alberta Book Fair, hosted by Bowness Arts at 6326 Bowness Road NW in Calgary. The event runs from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday, April 11, so be sure to stop by and say hello. Hope to see you there.
read moreUpcoming Courses – University of Calgary
Writing Fiction for Children and Youth Writing for children and youth is a rich and vibrant global market. Focus on writing fiction for readers aged 8 to 12 years. Examine the writing process from initial concept to finished work including turning ideas into stories, story structure, developing characters, creating outlines, and the importance of editing and revision. Students will explore market and publishing opportunities in this interactive and supportive online course. Course Details Learning Outcomes By completion of this course,...
read moreThe Children’s Writer’s Guide
The Children’s Writer’s Guide examines how you can get started as a writer, create time and space to pursue your craft and deal with lack of motivation and writers block. Topics covered include where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories, choosing names for characters that are appropriate to the story, the importance of historical research if your novel is set in a different era, writing science fiction and fantasy, and the use of magic in stories for children. The guide examines the role of editing and revision and how...
read more“The Emerald Curse is a very well written and appealing adventure book. Highly recommended.”
The Emerald Curse Charles Kelly was the world’s greatest comic book artist, until he disappeared without a trace. Two years later, his grandson Sam discovers a mysterious pen in Kelly’s attic studio. Sam is soon propelled into a bizarre dimension, where super villains are all powerful and disturbingly real, and finds himself in a deadly confrontation with an evil entity, imprisoned inside a mystical gemstone since the dawn of time. “I bought your book The Emerald Curse and it is brilliant and I can’t wait for your next...
read moreAn Untimely Death
An Untimely Death is an exciting science fiction and fantasy adventure for young adults. When Peter’s great-grandfather, Ted, passes away, Peter is looking through his belongings in the attic. Peter knows about Ted’s experiences with the Canadian Army in World War II and absentmindedly flips a coin. To his astonishment, Peter finds himself in the heat of battle in 1944, where he embarks on a highly dangerous mission to ensure that history is placed back on track. Learn more...
read moreUpcoming Courses – University of Calgary
Writing Fiction for Children and Youth Writing for children and youth is a rich and vibrant global market. Focus on writing fiction for readers aged 8 to 12 years. Examine the writing process from initial concept to finished work including turning ideas into stories, story structure, developing characters, creating outlines, and the importance of editing and revision. Students will explore market and publishing opportunities in this interactive and supportive online course. Course Details Learning Outcomes By completion of this course,...
read moreWriters to Writers – Episode 2
Check out the latest Writers to Writers podcast at Write by the Sea here on YouTube. In this episode we chat about creating plots, hooking the reader, crafting great pacing, developing your characters, and more.
read more