Have you been to Bowen? If so, what are you looking forward to. If not, what do you hope to find?

Bowen is a short ferry ride away, but it’s a magical place- better than a portal in a wardrobe to Narnia. I’ve been lucky enough to go visit  multiple times and what I most look forward to is the sound of the water hitting the shore, the friendly people, and perhaps a cookie from The Snug Cafe. 

What's one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I have the strongest desire to make up something super compelling for this type of question, like that I have a second job as a jewel thief. Alas, I am not nearly that exciting, but I am running away to England this December for a writing retreat and if the Hope diamond goes missing I will neither confirm nor deny if I was involved. 

What’s the best words of advice on writing you’ve ever been given?

Read. Read. Then read some more, this time like a writer. Books are the best teachers. Try and figure out why you love or dislike certain books. How did the author choose to tell the story? What point of view did they select, how would the story have been different if it was told a different way? Then after you’ve read, read, read.. start writing, writing writing. 

What do you like to read? Is there a book you could recommend?

The bigger question is what don’t I enjoy reading? I love thrillers, historical novels, women’s fiction, mystery, and non-fiction on random topics that allow me to bring up conversations like did you know more people are killed by falling vending machines than by sharks? I’m one of those people who gets nervous if I don’t have a stack of books to choose from at any given time. I’m currently recommending Nicole Lundrigan’s The Case Study, which is a delightfully twisty psychological thriller from a fellow Canadian writer.