Q: How long have you been in Ottawa, and what first brought you here?
I have been in Ottawa for about 15 years. I moved here with my family to follow my partner who landed a job in Ottawa. I was initially not thrilled with the move as I was leaving the Maritimes behind, where I grew up, but I have grown to love Ottawa.
Q: How did you first get involved in writing, and subsequently, the writing community here?
I decided at age 11 I wanted to be a writer, and hand wrote my first book every day after school. I mailed it to a publisher and received a very kind rejection letter (the first of many) who told me to keep on writing. Life intervened, school, jobs, kids but I kept writing over the years, sometimes late at night when the kids were asleep. I tried different genres over the years, including mystery and a war story (after reading The Red Badge of Courage). I never quite found my voice. But something gelled during the 2020 pandemic, and I finally completed a book I had been working away on for years. It was a young adult dystopian novel. Then came the huge learning curve, editing (I paid way too much for poor quality work), and self-publishing after numerous rejections from traditional publishers. For the first time in my life I joined social media, initially to market my book, but it was there I discovered a community of writers who offer support and good advice. Through social media, I have connected with Ottawa writers and now attend local readings and book signings and connect with local authors at craft markets.
Q: How did being in such a community of writers shift your thinking about writing, if at all?
I am gaining allot from the writing community here. We support each other. I feel less alone in my writing knowing there are others out there trying to do the same thing I do. Before connecting with the writing community in Ottawa, I didn’t know any writers. It's a very solitary activity and having a community makes it feel more like a supportive club. I think about my writing differently because I feel like I now have the right to call myself a “writer” when I connect with the community of writers. They accept me as a writer, even if I don’t always think of myself as legitimate because I am self-published.
Q: What do you see happening here that you don’t see anywhere else? What does Ottawa provide, or allow?
I think Ottawa has a really supportive Indie bookstore scene who are very open to stocking Indie author books, which is wonderful. Ottawa has options for writers to attend (or participate in) author readings and lectures from both traditional and self-published authors. I see allot more events here for authors such as craft markets that allow authors to sell their books, and launch events, book signings and small publishers' events. In addition, there are venues here in Ottawa that offer free of charge, spaces to organize author readings and book launches.
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?
I am planning an author reading with 3 Ottawa writers at Anina's Cafe in October. I was so pleased that Anina's was an immediate, “yes”, and offered their marketing support to host an author reading and book sale event. Without a city like Ottawa supporting the arts and the writing community, I would likely have neglected this part of the writing life and simply hoped dropping a book on Amazon, will make my book succeed. The ability to connect and grow from the connections with the writer's community here has led me to approach my writing in a more creative, but also professional manner. We all have experiences to share that is invaluable to those of us without a traditional publisher support.
Q: What are you working on now?
My first book is a YA dystopian thriller, which ended on a cliffhanger. I envision a 3-part series, and I am currently working on the 2nd novel in the series.
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