People are fascinating and have many layers to their lives. This is what moves me to share the stories of others. My love for books of all genres, from when I was a child right through into adulthood, has shaped so much of who I am as a writer. And a person.

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Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery

A forever favourite. The story of Anne and her adventures captivated me, an only child, who oftentimes would find comfort in the characters I read about. Anne’s story transcends time, with themes I feel we can connect with throughout our lives. Her bravery and seemingly brash ways for me, were representative of what makes a solid and strong person, one who believes in and stays true to her values. She made no apologies for taking up space in the world, and as she matured in the series of books LMM gifted us, we both witnessed and rooted for her to find true happiness and fulfillment. On her terms.  

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The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje

A beautiful story, written in such a way that transports the reader to another time and place. This was one of the first books I read with real depth and unfamiliar themes, as I was in my early 20s when I first picked it up. The way in which Ondaatje writes—the emotion and layers to character development and plot—were all challenging but offered me insight into a story that stays with the reader long after having read the last page. Being set in North Africa also appeals, as it’s a place I hope to one day visit. This story about people and how they relate to one another fulfills my curiosity toward and fascination with human nature.  

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Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch

A special, sweet, and also sad book that brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. I was gifted this book by my mother after my sixth miscarriage, a few months before becoming pregnant with my first daughter. It appears simple in its rhythm, with its repetitive verses, however, the story holds deep meaning on many levels. I began reading this book to Cali shortly after she was born, and then to her sister Elle together at bedtime. After my mom died, the book took on a new and even more heartbreaking tone, as I did not have the opportunity to care for my mom in the way that she had for me during her life. Her passing was sudden and unexpected, leaving me, her only child, to truly appreciate that the unconditional love of a mother can never be replicated.  

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Milk and Honey, by Rupi Kaur

A very special book that was gifted to me a decade ago, when I turned 40. Poetry doesn’t always resonate with me, however, this collection moves me to tears every time I read it because Kaur touches on almost every hard thing we experience in life. Although the poems cannot offer solutions, they offer a space and feeling of being seen and heard and not so alone in the experience. There’s one particular section that still stays with me:

how is it so easy for you 
to be kind to people he asked 

milk and honey dripped
from my lips as I answered 

cause people have not 
been kind to me 

This feels like a conversation I often have with my husband. I go back to the above words when the world feels heavy, or I feel shaken and broken by some sense of wrong that can’t seem to be righted, only knowing that if I continue to be kind, hopefully the rest will fall into place. This book is like a big hug in all the best ways possible.      

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Never Cry Wolf, by Farley Mowat

I can still see the striking image of a wolf on the cover of this book atop the corner of my desk in Grade 6. It was a story unlike any other I had previously read, and at first, I remember struggling to get into it, as at that time in my life I was more into Judy Blume books. But a few chapters in, I found myself starting to feel something for these animals and their story. It also piqued my curiosity about a remote part of Canada, and Manitoba specifically, where I had family and spent half of my summer. The way in which Mowat recounts this tale is a wonderful example of how storytelling can transport the reader to somewhere totally new through descriptive writing. I was intrigued by the landscape and his vivid descriptions of it. It was a new geography and genre for me. Reading this book as a class was an important lesson in learning how to be open to something that I may not immediately reach for or connect with, be it a book, a place, a person or an idea. In the teaching of empathy, reading is so important. 

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Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, by Mordecai Richler

This children’s book was one of the first I remember reading as a young child. Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang was written in 1975, one year after I was born. I was maybe six or seven years old when I held a copy of it in my hands at the school library. The beginning of this book is wonderful and something I always remember. “Once there was a boy called Jacob Two-Two. He was two plus two plus two years old.” This was about the same age I was when I first read it. I like how the author doesn’t patronize kids and writes in a way that made me feel smart and capable of reading a story that had paragraphs. Richler managed to sneak in big issues that kids feel in a way that wasn’t forced. I rooted for Jacob Two-Two in all his adventures and continue to hold a fondness for his having to repeat everything twice to be heard—kind of how I feel these days as a mom. 

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Soccer Scaries, by Sunshine Punzalan, illustrated by Mike Deas

A relevant book that touches on the topic of anxiety, specifically with children and sports. The author, a Filipina/Canadian and I connected on Instagram in 2016, when I was living in the Philippines. She uses her platform and this book to advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion. A mom to twin boys, Punzalan knows and lives parenting on the daily, both the ups and downs. She is all about embracing tools to better help our children navigate the challenges life presents. What I especially like about this story is that it focuses on the importance of accepting both the setbacks and victories. This is a valuable lesson at any age, and one I often try to impart to my two daughters.  

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The Field Agent, by R.S. Twells

A young adult spy novel is not my usual go-to read, however I was moved to read this title (Book 1 in The Agent Bennet Saga) after meeting, interviewing and becoming fast friends with the author. Her evident passion for writing this genre is shows up in her ability to create strong and relatable characters and develop a plot line that both engages and entertains. YA is an important demographic, as we see younger generations reading less and on screens more. This is a story (along with the other books to come in the series) that touches on many relevant topics including the love and power of family, confidence, self-awareness and building independence. These are themes that we continue to explore and learn from as we move through life.  

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Made Up, But Still True, by Donald Sutherland

There are so many reasons to read this book about a Canadian icon whose voice I heard as I made my way through this incredible account of a life filled with passion, purpose, loss, success and so much more. To get a glimpse from his perspective feels like a true honour as sometimes we can only connect with the superficial version of those we see on the big screen and in interviews. This candid book about one of my favourite Canadian actors helped me work through the grief I felt with his passing. Watching Sutherland in the television series M*A*S*H* remains to be one of my fondest early memories, sitting on the floor in my grandparents' living room, all the cousins gathered together, snacks on hand, and everyone laughing.  

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Closer Together: Knowing Ourselves, Loving Each Other, by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

This is a brave, heartfelt and honest approach to sharing about mental health. It’s no easy feat to expose our struggles, especially someone in the public eye, such as Grégoire Trudeau does in this important book about mental and emotional health. I especially enjoy the balance between personal experiences and expert commentary, which offers readers an opportunity to explore the depths of their own experiences. The importance of connection and how this can help us in our journey towards well-being resonates with me, as someone who is often arriving in new places and having to seek out community.

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Learn more about Bloom Across Canada: 

An uplifting collection of conversations with creative, entrepreneurial, diverse people across Canada.

Bloom Across Canada is a fascinating collection of 50 interviews and portraits that celebrate diversity, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. The women and non-binary people featured in this book represent different backgrounds, creative journeys, and walks of life. They come from every province and territory in Canada, though many have roots in other parts of the world. The one thing they all have in common is that they have followed their own path in life and have a unique story to tell.

Among those featured are: Tene Ward, ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada; singer/songwriter Kellie Loder; Peace Akintade, Saskatchewan’s former Youth Poet Laureate; Marika Sila, Inuit actress, hoop dancer, fire performer, and motivational speaker; and Amy Robichaud, CEO at Mothers Matter Canada and former director at Dress for Success Vancouver. Through insightful questions and thoughtful, nuanced answers, the fifty interviews in this beautiful collection paint a vivid portrait of talent and ingenuity from coast to coast to coast.