During her free time, Becky enjoys spending time with her family, reading, writing, walking her dog, planning children’s activities, and volunteering at her church.
Becky’s first book, T-Rockasaurus: the Rockin’ T-Rex, is scheduled for publication in 2022 by Ventorros Press.
Q: How long have you been in Ottawa,
and what first brought you here?
I first moved to Ottawa when I was 7 years-old as my parents relocated from
Ancaster for work. I went to elementary school at Featherston Drive Public
School in Alta Vista, Ashbury College in Rockcliffe for high school, and
Carleton University for my Bachelor of Arts. I moved to Orleans while
registered in an Intensive Early Childhood Education program through St.
Lawrence College.
Q: How did you first get involved in writing, and subsequently, the writing
community here?
I had an interest in writing from a young age. My dad always encouraged me
to write and helped with proofreading when I was in high school.
At Carleton, I took several writing workshops as elective courses where I
dabbled in poetry and crime-thriller fiction pieces. When I graduated from
Carleton, I took a break from writing while I went to St. Lawrence College and
studied Early Childhood Education.
This past year, I found my niche in writing children's books and, more
recently, children's book reviews.
Q: How did being in such a community of writers shift your thinking about
writing, if at all?
Growing up, I always saw writing as a very independent hobby. My courses at
Carleton taught me the value of belonging to a writing community where writers
support other writers from idea sharing to editing to promoting one another's
projects. I would love to connect with more Ottawa writers, especially authors
of children's books!
Q: What do you see happening here that you don’t see anywhere else? What
does Ottawa provide, or allow?
I love that Algonquin College has a Certificate in Creative Writing that you
can complete entirely online! I hope to complete this program in the future for
personal interest.
As for in-person events, I enjoyed experiencing the Ottawa small press book
fair a few years ago. It was great to meet so many writers, publishers, and
creative locals. I look forward to attending more of these events to connect
with others!
Q: Have any of your projects responded directly to your engagements here?
How have the city and its community, if at all, changed the way you approached
your work?
When I attended Carleton University, I registered in an Intermediate
Fiction Writing Workshop. I typically wrote crime-thrillers, but one day I
found myself in a different sort of mood. On that particular day, I began
writing a story about a garden gnome. I brought the piece to our workshop and
one of the comments I received was that it seemed like it was written for a
younger audience of approximately 10-12 year olds. I left this piece for
several years while I went back to school and I found it again this past year
with fresh eyes. I realized that maybe I am meant to write for a younger
audience! Now, I am currently halfway done drafting it as my first
middle-reader fiction piece. It has the working title The Magical Realm of Garden Underworld.
Q: What are you working on now?
My first children's picture book, T-Rockasaurus:
The Rockin' T-Rex, is being published later this year by Ventorros Press.
As mentioned, I am working on a short
children’s novel, The Magical Realm of
Garden Underworld, which is a fantasy about the secret lives of garden gnomes.
It is an adventure story with a central theme of family love.
I have also recently started a KidLit blog where I share information about my
upcoming publications, as well as reviews to help promote other children's
books, author interviews, and writing contests. Please feel free to check it
out at https://beckyhalton.wordpress.com
and get in touch!
Thank you so much for reading!
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