Carleton University Writing Competition — Working on submission, deadline December 14th, 2012
3 Day International Novel Writing Contest — In review process, winners announced January 2013
Books, stories, poems and tales… My life has long been engulfed by them. In my youth, my father shared countless novels with my sister and I, stimulating our imaginations and rapidly increasing our vocabularies. I loved to read, and I wanted to share this passion with others. So at age 9, when we were asked to share a poem with our Grade 4 class, I decided to present Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". Needless to say, I became the loner from that moment on. From this moment though, I had caught the attention of my teacher in such a way that would change my life forever.
Mr. Selman encouraged me to write. Write often, write always, every day and about everything. So write I did. From Grade 4 to Grade 8, each year I was selected to be part of a poetry compilation put out by the district school board. In high school, I helped to run the Poetry Club and also ran the school newspaper. I would lose hours and days in words, consumed by the comfort of text and tale. At my first year of University, I was held after class by my English Professor. She just couldn't understand why I chose Art School (OCAD). She said, "Why are you here? You are a writer, you should be writing". It was a revelation yet again, re-affirming what I had learned at age 9.
It has been a tumultuous road since I left university, blinded momentarily by what seemed real but was truly a nightmare. Now, at age 28, I have found my way back to the words, and vow never to stray again.
It seems destiny is calling to me. What makes me think such bold things? It is as simple as the school I am attending. The mascot of the school:
The Raven.