Put together two wildly eccentric characters, a real life utopian socialist from the 19th century, a small Maritime town and a franchise involving sheets and what do you get? A glimpse into the zany world of And the Seas Shall Turn to Lemonade, my first novel.
I am a poet, novelist, short story writer and lyricist and I live in Ottawa. My first book of poetry, The Untidy Bride, was shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Award for the best book of poetry published in Canada by a woman. My second, Woman of Sticks, Woman of Stones, won the Archibald Lampman Award. A poem from that collection also took third prize in the International Stephen Leacock Competition. I have also taught English and Creative Writing, at St Francis Xavier University and the University of Ottawa. I’ve sat on numerous juries for arts grants and was once lucky enough to be the Poet Laureate for the Peter Gzowski Golf Tournament for Literacy.
Working with my husband, guitarist and composer Roddy Ellias, I have written dozens of song lyrics which have been recorded by jazz ensembles like Chelsea Bridge and classical performers such as Julie Nesrallah and Donna Brown. I have just finished my second novel, The Third Road, set in Malaya during the Communist uprising of 1948. Upcoming projects include a book of short stories, a third book of poems, Songs for Invisible Ladies, and the libretto for a puppet opera about a homeless man named Ted.
I make my living as a speechwriter for Library and Archives Canada.
