Music-lover, cello player, ESL teacher, and writer Emily Givner was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. She died July 5th , 2004 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, of an allergic reaction, aged 38. From birth Emily's life had been complicated and restricted by asthma and allergy problems though she refused to let her aliments interfere with her life of travel, music and writing. She was mentored by the acclaimed novelist and neuroradiologist, Aryeh Lev Stollman, whose work she loved.