I think I was always meant to be an author. When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher, then an architect, then a racecar engineer. But after I wrote a mammoth 60-page novel for my 6th grade teacher’s simple ten-page writing assignment, I thought I might have a few more stories in me.

Fast forward a decade or so, and I graduated in mechanical engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec (the most fun four years you could imagine … I recommend every teen consider attending McGill!). I walked the same halls Elie and William did, and yes: the western-facing windows on the Schulich library’s fourth floor was my favorite studying nook on campus. I moved back to the States and proudly worked as an engineer for the Army and Navy. But I never stopped writing. Even after a long day of part drawings and program management meetings, I made time to pound away at my keyboard.

After getting married and having two (wonderful!) daughters, I kept writing – both out of love for writing and to show my girls you can reach your dreams. These days I spend my time as a mother, teaching high school French, and writing even more stories. I live in New Jersey with my family, across the street from a lake overrun by swans and Canadian geese.