Britta Elmberg grew up in the Ottawa Valley area. She obtained her first degree at Carleton University (English/Music History) in 1983.She met her husband in 1985 and later studied Music and Education at the University of Toronto( B.Mus., B.Ed.) She left teaching at the Toronto District School Board in 1996 to look after her family which eventually included four children.
Britta’s first publication was a collection of poetry, Poems for Now, which was included in the Read Local collection of the Caledon Public Library. After the publication of the collection, Britta created a website to support the launch of this book, and this can be seen at www.brittaelmberg.wix.com/poems-for-now. She hopes you will view the new poem written for Remembrance Day, Home from Afghanistan.
Bunny and Ankaand The Passage of Agnes May were published in early 2015 and launched in April 2015, at Educatus Learning in Brampton. For info and background about the books and Britta visit her Stories for Young Kids site: http://brittaelmberg.wix.com/britta-elmberg.
2015 has been a very busy year for Britta. During the spring of 2015, she was selected by Headwaters Horse Country to paint a fibre glass horse statue for the Parade of Horses, a local initiative created to promote the Equestrian Events held at the Caledon Equestrian Park during the Pan Am Games. Please visit http://headwatershorsecountry.ca/horse-country-happenings/headwaters-parade-horses/britta-elmberg/. Britta’s horse was named Charlie and he currently resides at the Grange Farm on Highway 10 in Caledon. The Parade of Horses recently received the 2015 Creative Cultural Event Award.
During 2015, she has also continued to pedal her arts and crafts at the Bolton Farmer’s Market and on-line which you can view at www.brittaelmberg.wix.com/artsandcrafts.
Mary E. Fam
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Mary E. Fam, an Educator, has taught students of all ages locally and abroad. She also serves her community as a Youth Mentor. In addition to her Master's thesis/dissertation "The Social and Academic Effects of Bullying" (Fam, 2006), Mary has published various articles on teaching tools that promote student success and been involved in curriculum development at elementary and secondary levels. She is a member of numerous educational organizations that specialize in professional development for teachers and excellence in Education.
A two-time cancer survivor, Mary, at the age of fifteen, battled with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Thyroid cancer at the age of thirty. With the unfailing love and support of her family, a team of dedicated Oncologists and health practitioners, and a stubborn case of perseverance, today Mary holds the prestigious title of "CANCER-FREE".
Mary's professional and personal experiences have infused her children's books with not only valuable learning opportunities but also a genuine love that each child deserves.
Helke Ferrie
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Helke Ferrie was born in 1948 in Germany to parents who, with Bishop Martin Niemoller’s group, were founding members of the resistance movement against Hitler. Helke grew up in India where her parents worked for the newly independent Indian government and was educated in an American international school and Zurich University. During a year at Benares Hindu University in Varanasi, India, she met her Canadian husband, Dr. Robert K. Ferrie, then a urologist and since 1984 a psychotherapist. They married in 1970 and raised three biological and eleven adopted children. By 1995 she earned a B.A in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Chinese history and philosophy and an M.A. in Physical Anthropology from the University of Toronto.
Following a serious illness caused by a life-long exposure to DDT and mercury dental amalgam, she became interested in the politics of medicine. Her articles on these issues have been published since 1997 in many venues; since 1999 she writes the monthly lead article in Toronto’s Vitality magazine. In 2002 she incorporated Kos Publishing Inc., which produces books on medico-political issues. Helke and Robert live near Toronto. www.helkeferrie.com.
Angelica Ganea
A receiver of the Award of Excellence from CanPak Chamber of Commerce Canada, Angelica Ganea graduated College from Fitness Leadership and operated her own fitness centre. She is also the author of ‘Remember Who You Are: the Story Behind the Song’, a book of short stories which accompanies her first original music CD.
Published in 2018, ‘Habits Rule You: One Simple Answer to Achieving Your Nutrition & Fitness Goals’ is the first book in Angelica Ganea’s series of self-help works.
Scott Gardiner
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Scott was born in Mattawa, Ontario and lives in Bolton, Ontario.He has been writing poetry since he was a lad of 14. Three-plus decades later, he has finally published a collection of his work.
Vanessa Grillone
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Vanessa Grillone is a writer and blogger from Bolton, Ontario. She has been writing since the age of twelve (if not earlier) but never had the courage to share her work. She started her blog in 2010 as a way to get her writing out into the world and believes strongly in the power of finding your voice. Her blog is home to her lifestyle and personal posts, narratives, short stories, book reviews, and product reviews. Vanessa self-published her first book, a collection of poetry and prose entitled My Pen, My Voice in 2011. In 2013 she self-published her first adult fiction novel Twenty-One Truths. Although she has no immediate plans to self-publish again, she is currently working on a novella and a 'sequel' to her first book. Vanessa dreams of a career in publishing, but for the moment you'll find her serving pizza at a local gourmet pizza place, tutoring, and writing.
Aldonna Kaulius-Barry
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Aldonna Kaulius-Barry is an award-winning corporate magazine editor, training facilitator, and executive coach. Through “Distributed Learning” on her website abphireandinspire.com, Aldonna has written training workbooks guiding executives and their employees to reap personal and profession rewards through outstanding performance.
Aldonna, her husband Michael, their daughter Danielle and a menagerie of horses and dogs, are long-time Caledon residents. A corporate writer by profession, her greatest love besides ice cream, gardening and kayaking has been the lyrical word, the tenderness of prosaic storytelling and poetry, which she has written since her childhood. Aldonna has just finished an epic debut novel, “The Amethyst”, a 19th century historical romance in which the protagonist travels from Yorkshire, England to India on a perilous journey by ship during the opulence of the British Raj.
The second edition of her children’s book, “Mikey’s Wonderful, Terrific, Upside-down Monday” was recently released on Amazon.com.
J.C. Kavanagh
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J.C. or 'Joanie,' as she likes to be called, has been writing for many years in the newspaper industry and later in the corporate world. Today, though, she uses her talents for creative writing, penning nine children's picture books and one movie script.
Her first novel, The Twisted Climb, was published in the summer of 2016 and is available through Amazon.ca, at Chapters/Indigo/Coles stores, and at the South Simcoe Arts Studio.
Quinn Kavaner
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Quinn Kavaner enjoys reading, writing and drawing. When he was twelve, he had an Idea for a character and a story. Within a year he managed to write, illustrate and publish his very first book, “The Frown Who Wanted to Smile”. It’s a children’s book about a Frown who goes on a journey to find his smile. Although it is a children’s book the message applies to all ages. Quinn is looking forward to publishing another book. Currently, he is working on a short children’s novel and a second Frown book. Quinn is sharing his experience with other children to inspire and encourage them to write a book and take action on their dreams. Beyond school and writing, he enjoys many outdoor activities. Quinn lives in Caledon with his family and pets.
Maureen E Kowal
Maureen E Kowal loved poetry as a child. When her mom read A Child’s Garden of Verses to her, each poem became alive. Now Maureen feels happy when people read her poetry and say ’’I can see it’’ or ’’ I’ve felt this way.’’ Graduating from Humber College in Early Childhood Education, Maureen worked in a daycare where she wrote stories and small plays for children. She especially loved reading stories that would make the children laugh with delight. When she moved to Bolton, in her church Anglican newspaper, her husband found a writer’s conference called God Uses Ink. It’s now called Write Canada. He said’’ you like to write, you should go.’’ She went to it and was so excited to learn and meet other writers. That’s when I felt truly called to be a writer’’ she says.
She joined the writer’s group that put on the conference The Word Guild, an association of Canadian Christian writers, editors and publishers who are committed to encouraging one another and fostering standards of excellence in the art, craft, business and ministry of writing. At the conference, she met the editor at the time June Stevenson, now Colleen Wood of Glad Tidings a Presbyterian Missionary Magazine, and writes poetry for them. With the help of her writer friends from The Word Guild, and the grace of God, she was published and now is a children’s author of 2 Grade One Vowel Books The Candy Map and The Loud Chime. Both books published by The Perfection Learning Company. She is also a member of Canscaip.
Svetlana Lazareva
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is a successful and proud Canadian, a Registered Nurse, an Educator, and the mother of two boys. She is a great example of a person, demonstrating a high level of individual excellence. Born in Russia, she demonstrates by all her life that a non-Canadian born immigrant can really make a success in Canada.
Svetlana glows with positive energy, emanates assuredness in the day of tomorrow and energizes people around her to move and do positive things. She inspires people to dream big about their future, helps them to envision it, to set goals and to strive to reach their goals. People who get in touch with her get the energy and thrust to strive for more, to study, work on reaching their goals and finally to become a tangible success in their lives. Her glorious example leads many to set higher goals in life, to reach them and to continue developing excellence in professional sphere, wellness and peace in personal sphere and well-being in their families.
She is the founder of the “ImmPress Institute” which she created to assist and motivate others through the immigrant experience. She has written a book -“The Sky is No Longer the Limit” – a flight plan to success for immigrants with big dreams. This book is about breaking through barriers and overcoming self-imposed limitations.
Svetlana is shining, luminescent, pure – brings light to all whose lives she touches.
Filipe Masetti Leite
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Filipe Masetti Leite is a film-maker, journalist, cowboy and adventurer who at age 25 undertook a 16,000 km journey on horseback from Calgary, Canada to Barretos, Brazil. He is a graduate of Toronto’s Ryerson University, where he directed two documentaries: “Gringos with Guns”(2010), about the double-edged sword of voluntarism in Peru and “The Road to Dago”(2011) about HIV prevention efforts in Kenya. His background includes broadcast stints at OMNI Television, CBC Radio’s “Dispatches”, five-time host of the Brazilian Day Canada festival which welcomed upwards of 80,000 people every year, as well as his own local radio show for three years.
He has written for several publications in both Canada and his native Brazil, including The Toronto Star, McClung’s Magazine, The Eye Opener, Trip Magazine Brazil and The Caledon Enterprise.
During his historic Long Ride, he created and posted the 90-episode Internet series called “Journey America”, which detailed in real time his dangerous, sometimes funny, happy and heart-breaking adventures from two years in the saddle, available now on www.outwildtv.com. In August of 2017 Filipe released his book in Brazil where it was welcomed with praise and spent 11 weeks on the best-sellers list.
Although it may be hard to believe, Filipe didn’t stop riding! On April 10, 2016 he rode out of Barretos, Sao Paulo on route to Ushuaia, Argentina the southernmost city in the world.
The Long Rider is currently writing his second book and planning his final ride. In May 2019, he will trek 4000 kms from Anchorage, Alaska to Calgary Alberta, finishing his odyssey, nearly a decade later, where it all began. Filipe will become one of the three men to cross the Americas in its entirety on horseback.
Lauren Macri
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Lauren Macri is currently a student at the University of Toronto - Mississauga, with a major in Professional Writing and Communication. Lauren has loved writing since a young age and was encouraged by her parents and teachers to continue pursuing that love. Don't Stop Now: A Collection of Short Stories is her first publication. Visit her blog at https://anxiousandawesome.wordpress.com/.
Goldie Millar
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Goldie Millar, Ph.D., is a clinical and school psychologist. Since earning her Ph.D in counselling psychology from the University of Toronto in 2003, Goldie has worked with children in hospital, forensic, community, and educational settings. She has a deep interest in children’s mental health, emotional regulations, and evidence-based intervention strategies. Goldie lives in Ontario with her husband and their two young daughters.
M.J. Moores
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Melissa (M.J.) Moores’ passion for the arts ignited at a young age as she wrote adventure stories and read them aloud to close family and friends. The dramatic arts became a focus in high school as an aid to understanding character motivation in her writing. Majoring in Theatre Production at York University, with a minor in English, she went on to teach both elementary and high school for 10 years throughout Simcoe County.
Now living in Caledon, Melissa keeps busy with her emerging authors’ website Infinite Pathways: hosting writing contests, providing editing services, free publicity tips, book reviews, and opportunities for authors to build their writing platform and portfolio. In addition, she writes articles, edits freelance and is preparing to launch the 2nd book in her Sci-Fi quartet The Chronicles of Xannia.
Carolyn j Morris
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Carolyn’s country roots began on the family farm on the 10th line of the old Nottawasaga Township. Her passion fills her classroom, home, and church life. She lives with her family in Beeton. Carolyn j Morris has taught in both Toronto and rural communities for 30 years and is currently a Junior Kindergarten teacher at Kleinburg Christian Academy. Carolyn is the author of the Spruce Valley novels – Mourning Dove, Barn Swallows, Pine Warbler, and Chickadees at Christmas. Lately, she spends her time writing for a younger audience in her Railfence Bunch children’s books where Chick and Duckling are always on a curious adventure. She writes honest, heartwarming stories that show respect for farming and families. Her storytelling in the classroom has extended to speaking engagements on various topics. Carolyn can be contacted through her website, www.railfencebooks.com.
Stephanie Mulhall
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Stephanie Dawn Elizabeth Mulhall is a certified Inner Kindness Coach who works with women and girls to uncover the power of self-acceptance and gentleness in their own lives. She is a spirited light chaser and lover of all things human. She has worked with hundreds of girls and women both one-on-one and in group settings, guiding them to the realization that they are inherently and unconditionally worthy. Her work is both inspired by and created through the lessons she has learned from them. She believes that her sole (and soul) purpose in life is to connect and to empower.
Born in Toronto, Ontario Canada in 1942, Don Norris developed a passion for motorcycling at age eight. Riding became a reality at age sixteen with the purchase of a 1952 Triumph 350cc Twin.
The next seven years were spent learning life’s lessons through the gang culture, sometimes violent, but always an adventure. His involvement with Satan’s Choice, sometimes referred to as Canada’s answer to the Hells Angels, earned him the Presidency of the gang. He also enlisted with the 48th Highlanders of Canada as part of Headquarters Support, Signals Platoon in 1960.
He made his living as a mechanic, later a truck driver, then a factory supervisor and a pneumatic tool service manager. During thirty years away from biking, he raised four children while working as a National Manager of Customer Service, and later as a salesman. After six grandchildren, the call of biking was too great to ignore any longer. He now is a great grandfather.
Don Norris has written for several magazines, Canadian and US, including Wing World, Riders Mag and RideOn. He was a Leadership Trainer for the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, a group of over 83,000 motorcyclists. Don lives with his wife Carolyn in Bolton, Ontario, and is retired as a Quality Manager for an international trucking company. He still loves the freedom of the open road and the wind in his face. At 72, camping is getting a little uncomfortable.
D.L. Narrol, Dianne was born in Toronto, Canada. She grew up relishing in adventure novels, like Clavell’s Shogun, and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. She enjoyed Wells’ Time Machine but disliked the lack of characterization. She always wanted to write an adventure series that would depict the fine work of a classic sci-fi of Wells or even Verne, and always felt compelled to set her novels in the early 1900s. Little did she know, she was setting the stage for a steampunk fantasy sci-fi adventure series. Her books are always heavy weighted with interpersonal relationships and untraditional romance – very untraditional!
In 2011, her stand-alone romantic-fantasy, When Beowulf Meets Kyla was released. Written in Kyla’s point of view, where she underwent a trial of initiation in order to prove her love for her ancient Viking warrior. Also, in 2009, she won a short story contest, where her short story, ‘Kate’s Choice’ was chosen as part of a compilation of stories for The Caledon Collection published with Giant Beaver Press.
She has two degrees in Geography – that’s where her vivid physical descriptions come from. She has made several journeys around the world – she doesn’t write about a place she hasn’t seen. Her readers have described her novels to be a cross between Diana Gabaldon and Kurt Vonnegut. Humour is of the essence when it comes to time travel.
Helen Notzl
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Helen was born in Prague and came to Canada when she was four years old. After graduating from Queen's University in philosophy and English, she worked for the National Film Board, and went on to found the Pauline McGibbon Cultural Centre in Toronto. She next earned an MSW degree, developed a psychotherapy practice, then transitioned into life coaching, and is currently an Executive Coach in Leadership Development, an author and a traveler. She lives on a small hobby farm near Belfountain with her husband Walter Keyser and their two beloved Paso Fino horses, and she and Walter now travel often to their apartment in Prague.
Helen recently released her memoir, Long Journey Home: A Prague Love Story, which has been described as 'a memoir that reads like a thriller,' opening with her family's daring escape from Czechoslovakia and then following her lifelong search for self and home, torn between two starkly different and conflicting worlds - from affluence and fulfillment in Canada, to passion and revolution in Prague. A quintessentially Canadian story - growing up in a safe environment where she was educated and had her physical needs of life satisfied, yet yearning for and drawn to the people, places and language of the country she'd been forced to leave behind.
Long Journey Home: A Prague Love Story is available at BookLore in Orangeville, Forster's Book Garden in Bolton, Ben McNally's in Toronto and online at Chapters/Indigo, Amazon.ca, and other retailers. Check out Helen's website: www.helennotzl.com.
Kay O'Neil
Kay is one of Kerry's elder sisters. After attending Teacher's College she began her career in a one-room schoolhouse in Wyebridge, Ontario. When her little school closed she moved to Brampton where she raised her two sons while teaching elementary school for the Peel Board. Her career was varied as she specialized in Primary Methods and Special Education alternating between classroom and withdrawal settings throughout the years. Upon retiring she returned to Clarksburg to assist her sisters with the care of her ageing father and Kerry. She now resides in the town of Meaford, Ontario.
Eric Orchard
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Eric Orchard is an award-winning writer and illustrator. His publishers and clients include Macmillan, Scholastic, Top Shelf and others. He is the creator of the graphic novels Maddy Kettle as well as Bera the One Headed Troll.
A.E. Payne
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The author, a 76-year-old retired electrician, has compiled a collection of short stories accumulated over 30 years from experiences while travelling the world. The work is published by First Choice Books out of Victoria, B.C. and a second edition is being considered. Author lives in Terra Cotta, Caledon, Ontario