A single person, place or event can spawn an entire novel. But once the writing begins, the story takes on a life of its own. I always carry a small notebook and pen with me, ready to jot down interesting places, events, and people. These notes, coupled with my own experiences and imagination percolate in my brain until they knit themselves into a story.

Sixteen-year-old Kilian Barker can’t resist taking his newly-purchased Mustang for a spin in the country, even without insurance and a legal license. Too bad there’s a cop at the stop sign when he flies by. Kilian accelerates up the hill past a hay wagon, barely missing the on-coming cars. Knowing he’ll be caught on the straight road ahead, he makes a desperate turn into the back parking lot of a nursing home, and hurries inside to hide. A nurse sees Kilian looking at the medals in the display case outside Harry Goddard’s room. She assumes he’s there to see the 92-year-old and ushers him in. Kilian spins a story about being a former neighbour and is surprised that Harry goes along with it. As soon as the nurse leaves, Kilian tries to excuse himself. Suddenly he feels the sting of Harry’s cane across his legs. “Before you go anywhere,” the old man informs him, “you’ve got some explaining to do.” This accidental meeting between a troubled teen and a war veteran begins an unlikely friendship that helps the young man deal with his foster parents, a secret girlfriend and brushes with the law. The Medal is a coming-of-age story set in Canada and Afghanistan, interwoven with true stories of World War II and life in Kingston, Ontario. Contact the author to arrange book talks or presentations for schools, book clubs or community groups.

The year is 1869. Sarah Phillips, a fifteen-year-old domestic, loses her family to cholera in the slums of East London. In Forest Mills, Ontario, Richard Breeze returns home in disgrace when he loses his job after a fight with his boss’s son. Finding Home chronicles their intersecting journeys as Sarah searches for her relatives in Canada, and Richard tries to find his place in the world and earn his father’s respect. This novel features twists inspired by stories from the Lennox and Addington County archives. It also shines a light on the plight of the early Home Children: waifs and orphans taken from the slums of London to provide child labour on Canadian farms. Finding Home was co-authored with Ruth Allen who shares my love of history and writing. The manuscript is now at the editing stage.