By the time I met my most admired author in person, Margaret Atwood, I had published nine novels. I was well into my 60s, so I suspected I might be unmouldable at this point. I was so wrong! As it is with most things in life, it was a combination of good luck, or possibly being in the right place at the right time when I was invited to attend a writer’s retreat on Pelee Island; a protected bird sanctuary for endangered and threatened species, and once the summer home to the famous author.
In the world of dystopia, Margaret Atwood is one of the most influential literary voices of our generation. I was her protégé. She was my mentor. Simply meeting this living breathing person was a great privilege and experience in itself – which went far beyond anything I had expected to learn. Margaret is not only knowledgeable, but interesting and funny. Under her mentorship, my writing skills were stretched in ways I had never anticipated.
My formative years:
As a farm girl, I have spent much of my life in a remote region of northern Canada. When I was twelve, we got our first ‘Pilgrim’ TV (rabbit ears delivering – 3 channels – and very snowy reception) and programming stopped at midnight. I grew up without theaters or cinemas. But we did have a country store that offered everything from flour and sugar, to shovels and boots. My imagination was formed by gazing out at the night sky, reading comics and or detective stories – virtually anything I could get my hands on.
I have often been told that I am too optimistic, a dreamer. I am also driven my my own internal ambitions – to be the best that I can be and reach for the stars, small as they might be. When I published my first book I had no idea that I would be writing another thirty books.
As an author, all too often my thoughts run to the macabre and disaster. I feel the world is troubled and being stretched beyond its capabilities.
I am little different from famous authors, in that I have always remained optimistic to think I can actually write a book, then finish it, then get it published, then think somebody may read it, and hope that some of my readers might like it. By the end of this year, 2024, I will have published 26 books.
Welcome to my world of dystopia. I sincerely hope you enjoy Măjitópiă.
Coming soon: Măjitópiă
