I’ve been so fortunate in being invited to events for my books across Nova Scotia. Each experience has been invaluable in shaping who I am as a writer. And now that I’m back in my hometown of Toronto, I’m excited at the prospect of getting to meet librarians, teachers, and booksellers and sharing my books with kids and their adults here as well!

YOU ARE HOME is a book that’s so incredibly close to my heart and was inspired by events that took place in and around Toronto. When I was a kid, my childhood home burned down, and it took many moves across Toronto for me to realize that home wasn’t just a physical location. Through the kindness of friends and communities, I came to understand that home is very much a feeling. And we can feel “at home” through many different activities, including those that are portrayed in YOU ARE HOME through my words and the brilliant illustrations of Andrés Landázabal. These include reading books, making visual art, playing together, and appreciating nature.

I’ve developed many fun, interactive presentations and activities for varying age groups, all inspired by YOU ARE HOME. These range from high-energy, get-on-your feet events full of rhythm, movement, and collaborative drawing to academic lessons with tie-ins to poetry units and social studies units, grounded in curriculum requirements with specific learning goals. As a former teacher trained at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, I love getting to use my background while introducing kids to the creative process in a fun, hands-on way.

I look forward to meeting more of the literary community here in Toronto and getting to share my love of writing with everyone!