Tell us about yourself.
I’m a 42 year-old Author/Director from Toronto, Ontario. I’m living in Hamilton, Ontario. I have an amazing husband named Adam, and we’ve been together for almost nine years, (coming up in August, 2025).
So far, I’ve written two mystery/suspense/psychological thriller fiction books. The first is ‘Concrete Jungle,’ which was released in in September, 2021. The second is ‘Sidewalk High.’ which was released in February, 2024. I’ve also directed both of the audiobooks for those books. The ‘Sidewalk High’ audiobook came out in February, 2024 and the ‘Concrete Jungle’ audiobook came out in June, 2024.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I was born and raised in the concrete jungle of east end Toronto/Scarborough, in Ontario, Canada. The fictional town in my books, is based off of Toronto, Ontario, where I grew up. I've called it 'Shady Acres.' It's a rough place, and everyone has a 'screwface.' Not knowing who to trust when I was growing up, really had an influence on the types of people I've chosen to include in my stories.
"In the end, we all become stories." Margaret Atwood
What was your journey to getting published like?
I began my own writing/production/publishing company, 'Room with a View Productions,' back in 2014. This, alongside Kindle Direct Publishing, is how I've published both of my books in the past, and how I will continue to do so in the future for my next two. My books are sold on Amazon and on Audible. They're available in eBook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook versions.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
One of the best book reviews I've ever received, was about my first book, 'Concrete Jungle.' Here it is:
"This is a bitter, brawling story of murder, corruption, and domestic abuse. Your imagery is vivid, and the picture is horrific. I could see the room, the people, and even the grit in the fingernails. This is very good."
It made me smile so big when I read it. I'm glad my book made this person think and feel this way, because it's what I was going for. It made my writing feel more authentic, real, and raw, when it was perceived the way that I intended it to be perceived.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
If you’re not sure what to write, just start writing. Just turning on the tap, will get the water flowing. Write first, edit second. First with your heart, then with your head. If you want to be a writer, you’ve just got to write.
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