Overview
My specialty is taking children's nonfiction from concept to final copy. Whether you have a paragraph, an outline, or a first draft—bring me your vision, and we'll bring it to life.My writing for children has included books, magazines, and activity card decks. Recently I've been writing STEAM articles for a subscription box company, and test preparation passages for grades 3 though 10 where I get to choose my own topics (fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry). I majored in music at university, and I write for kids about music whenever I get the opportunity. STEAM is hot these days, and I like to think that I'm making the "A" in STEAM hotter by writing about the physics of music or the story of a musical invention.
Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Awards
- Writer's Digest honorable mention award for YA short story “Miranda and the Singing Teacup.”
Certifications
- Writing for Children and Teenagers, Institute of Children’s Literature
- Advanced Editing Practices, USDA Graduate School
- Music major at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Work experience
Self-employed
Jan, 1994 —
Present
Early work included copyediting for federal government departments, Pearson Education and Corel Corporation, as well as writing for a small business magazine put out by Canada Post. Now specializing in writing nonfiction for children.
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Recent work includes:
- writing English Language Arts test preparation passages (300-800 words) for grades 3 through 10, a mix of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, on topics of my own choosing, for the Texas school system.
- writing STEAM articles for a magazine to accompany and educational toy for a subscription box company, includes articles on scientific principles, brief biographies of scientists, and cartoon panels, for ages 7 to 9.
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Children's books include:
Melody and Harmony: Inspiration and Math, published by Cricket Media, 2019, PDF ebook, 11 pages.
Clever Manka, published by Scholastic Canada as a retold folktale for their Grade 4 literary series, 2008, 16 pages.
Hippos! published by KidHaven Press, part of their Anmals Attack! series, 2003, 48 pages.
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Magazine articles include:
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YES Mag, “Canada's Science Magazine For Kids”:
“Zoo doctors” for the Sept/Oct 2003 Zoos issue;
“Möbius Magic” for the November/December 2001 Math issue.
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Odyssey, a science magazine for children 10–16:
“The Monster in my Basement” (fiction) and
“Dreamed-Up Discoveries” (nonfiction) for the January 2002 Sleep and Dreams issue.
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Activity card decks:
Chronicle Books, San Francisco: wrote card decks, about 100 words per card, for author/editor Lynn Gordon:
52 Sleepytime Rituals for Kids (2003);
52 Fun Christmas Activities (2003);
52 Great Activities with a Grandchild (2003);
52 Fun Activities for You and Your Baby (2002);
52 Fun Family Games (2001);
52 After School Projects (2001); and 26 of
52 Brain Tickling Activities for Kids (1998).
Portfolio
These 52 illustrated activities offer fun and meaningful ways to spend time with grandchildren of any age. Whether you reside near or far, these are great ways to keep in touch and continue to build cross-generational friendships.
Kids of all ages can amuse and stretch their brains with these 52 activities, including tricky math puzzles and wacky word riddles. Without too much brain strain, you'll learn to decipher a secret code, make a marble maze, or create a M bius strip.
Hippos kill more people in Africa than any other animal. Learn why this normally peaceful vegetarian is one of the world's most dangerous animals, and find out how people have learned to live with the hippo.
