Get to know the
Well Aware authors

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Vancouver, and now live not far away from there, in a small town where people farm and fish, where the Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean (and the river is salty and has tides!).

What do you like best about being a writer?

The best part of being a writer is the feeling that I have time to think about things. It’s something I can do in my pajamas, and no one is judging me. My favourite part is the actual writing—the working part of it—and it’s a place where I just get to be me ... rather like the list-writer in the book!

The one award, or honour, that has stood out for me is the inclusion of my picture book, Grandpa’s Music, on the IBBY List of Books for Children Living with Disabilities. That means a lot to me.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

Feeling good and STRONG about myself is important to me. It’s taken me some time to feel this way. I can say that I really like myself and I do the things I need to do to keep feeling that way. There’s no better feeling in the world. I think it’s called “being happy!” It means that I can make my family and friends—and maybe even my readers—feel a bit of that, too. I hope so!

What advice do you have for young writers?

There is a lot of pressure to “publish.” (Even as a young person.) If you feel that pressure, please read my response to the question about what I like best about being a writer. Enjoy writing. Take your time with it. Play with it. Use your words to explore and discover the big, wide, and deep world. It’s amazing.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

I like reading stories and books that give me the other side of what I’m talking about above; in other words, I like to get the feeling that the writer was enjoying the writing—even the hard parts!

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Toronto, Ontario, and I live just a short drive down the road from that city in Oshawa, Ontario, part of what I like to call Great Lakes Land.

What do you like best about being a writer?

There are so many things! I guess one of the reasons I like being a writer is creating worlds that exist in my imagination. Sometimes, they are right here, right now; other times, they are on far away worlds many stars from here. And, I get to travel in time if I want, to distant lands from long ago, or fly into the future!

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

One of the people at Pearson Canada contacted me about writing a story about a First Nations child. I thought a story about a boy and his grandfather talking about a way of living would be a fun thing to write. So, Get Real! came to be!

What advice do you have for young writers?

Write what you know. Be interested in things around you. Listen to the sounds that you hear every day. Watch as events take place wherever you are. When you write, all of these become part of what you write about. When you are going to write a story, think about where the story takes place, who is in the story, what happens in the story, and how it ends. And, have fun playing with story ideas in your head. Remember: Every story begins in your imagination!

What do you think makes a good story or book?

A good story is one that you feel a connection to. If you feel that you get what is happening in the story or book, then you are reading a good story. But, a good story has to be interesting! It has to make you want to keep reading. You know you have a good book or story when you don’t want to put it down until you reach the end. And, at the end, you may wish it went on longer!

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Cochrane, Ontario, and now I live in Simcoe, Ontario.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The things I like best about being a writer are working with ideas and learning new things.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I wanted to write for the Well Aware series because the theme is interesting and is universal—folks have struggles no matter where they live and are always looking for ways to feel better.

What advice do you have for young writers?

My advice for young writers is to read a lot, write a lot, and don't give up when it gets hard.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

What makes a good story? It's very personal—if it speaks to you as you read it, then it is a good story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Cochrane, Ontario, and now I live in Simcoe, Ontario.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The things I like best about being a writer are working with ideas and learning new things.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I wanted to write for the Well Aware series because the theme is interesting and is universal—folks have struggles no matter where they live and are always looking for ways to feel better.

What advice do you have for young writers?

My advice for young writers is to read a lot, write a lot, and don't give up when it gets hard.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

What makes a good story? It's very personal—if it speaks to you as you read it, then it is a good story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Cochrane, Ontario, and now I live in Simcoe, Ontario.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The things I like best about being a writer are working with ideas and learning new things.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I wanted to write for the Well Aware series because the theme is interesting and is universal—folks have struggles no matter where they live and are always looking for ways to feel better.

What advice do you have for young writers?

My advice for young writers is to read a lot, write a lot, and don't give up when it gets hard.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

What makes a good story? It's very personal—if it speaks to you as you read it, then it is a good story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Weston, Ontario, at the height of the storm called Hurricane Hazel. Maybe my wild weather entry into the world inspired a lifelong love of nature. I now live in Rutherglen, in northern Ontario, a place where I can often see eagles flying over my house in the day and sometimes hear wolves howling from across the lake at night.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The best thing about being a writer is that it is a job where you are always learning something new. Besides my books, I've written many hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles over the past thirty-five years. I’ve published stories about hurricanes, ice boat racing, wendigos, War of 1812 heroes, bush planes, groundhogs, apples, baking pies, submarines and digging for dinosaur fossils. Each article or book has taken me on a new and fascinating journey of discovery.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I have met many people who have been personally affected by mental illness. From this experience, I now know it not only changes their lives, but also the lives of everyone around them. I also know that there are many myths and misconceptions about mental illness. Hence, I wanted to write a book that accurately portrayed a family that is coping with a loved one who has a mental illness.

What is your advice for young writers?

Besides talent, you need faith in yourself. Today, everyone recognises Dr. Seuss as one of the most famous and successful writers in history. But his first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was turned down by 43 publishers in a row before it was finally accepted. Seuss went on to write 45 more books and almost all of them were bestsellers. Very few writers are instant successes. Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and many other very successful writers fought their way through a blizzard of rejection letters to become the well-known writers they are today. Never give up.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

Any subject can make a good book if the story is told well. Look again at Dr. Seuss. He wrote a bestseller about a plate of green eggs and ham! Canadian author Stephen Leacock wrote a great story about just opening a bank account. Some of the best stories are tales about ordinary people or things told in an entertaining way. The trick is to open your eyes and see interesting things that everyone else has missed.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in a hospital and I live in a house. Both are in Edmonton.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The best part of being a writer is I get to work in my pajamas. I also like to create characters that do all the things I’m too afraid to do.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

When I was a kid, the pressure to perform turned me into a bundle of nerves. I wanted the chance to write a story to show students that there is a way to handle pressure.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Write a story that you would want to read. If a section of your story bores you, revise it until it excites you.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

If I care about what happens to the characters, I know the writer has written a good story.

Author photo: Ryan Parker, PK Photography

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in a hospital and I live in a house. Both are in Edmonton.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The best part of being a writer is I get to work in my pajamas. I also like to create characters that do all the things I’m too afraid to do.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

When I was a kid, the pressure to perform turned me into a bundle of nerves. I wanted the chance to write a story to show students that there is a way to handle pressure.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Write a story that you would want to read. If a section of your story bores you, revise it until it excites you.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

If I care about what happens to the characters, I know the writer has written a good story.

Author photo: Ryan Parker, PK Photography

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Hamilton where most of my family still live today. I now live in Oakville with my wife and daughter, about halfway between my family and my work in Toronto.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I love interviewing people, getting to know them well and having them share intimate details of their life stories—stuff they wouldn't share with just anyone. I really value being given that kind of trust and take my responsibility to the person I'm interviewing very seriously. It is why I think I have been able to tell some very important stories over the years. One story along these lines, Black Ice, examined racism in hockey and I worked on that with Kevin Sylvester. It won the B'nai Brith Canada Media Human Rights Award.

What made you interested in writing for the Well Aware series?

I was intrigued when the editors decided to examine athletes and have them share some of the important stories we don't often hear. Many people see the success athletes have, but they don't see the backstory, the struggles, the pain and the suffering. Athletes are often seen as great physical specimens put on a pedestal as role models but there's another very important side—the mental side of sport that can take its toll. As Clara Hughes said to me, it's the masks we wear. We can learn so much by listening to Clara and what some of Canada's best have experienced on their journey. Kevin and I started by asking the athletes to put themselves in the shoes of the children who will be reading this ... what they were like at that age, and they all shared an important element of their story. Hopefully it will be fun to read and offer great lessons.

What advice do you have for young writers?

It's a lot of fun to write but I would recommend finding a topic you are passionate about. Practice writing all the time. A blog, write for your community newspaper, write in whatever way you can to get experience.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

You need a good character, somebody who has had to overcome obstacles on their journey. We all have conflicts that stand in our way and these are the kinds of things we can all relate to in our lives.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

Born in western New York. Now live in Toronto.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I love telling stories. It’s a way to examine the world we live in. It’s also amazing when those stories resonate with readers. I’ve won a kids’ choice award three times, and that’s pretty special.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

Teddy and I spent a lot of years working together at CBC Radio Sports. We saw incredibly successful athletes, who are amazing people, but they also go through the struggles we all go through. I think it’s important for kids to recognize that we are all human, and we all need to talk about the stuff we go through.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Write all the time, even if it stinks. Read great books and think about why you like them.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

Character is the biggest thing. You need to care about the people who are in the story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

Born in western New York. Now live in Toronto.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I love telling stories. It’s a way to examine the world we live in. It’s also amazing when those stories resonate with readers. I’ve won a kids’ choice award three times, and that’s pretty special.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

Laura and I, while working at CBC Radio, met incredibly successful artists who are amazing people. They also go through the struggles we all go through. I think it’s important for kids to recognize that we are all human, and we all need to talk about the stuff we go through.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Write all the time, even if it stinks. Read great books and think about why you like them.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

Character is the biggest thing. You need to care about the people who are in the story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Slave Lake, Alberta, and lived on Rabbit Hill with my parents, brothers and sisters, and my grandparents nearby. I now share my time between a log house in northern Alberta and Edmonton, the capital city of Alberta. The log house is a great place to write because it's so quiet. I'm surrounded by the woods I love. I see wild animals and many birds, from moose and coyotes to eagles and pelicans.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I dreamed of being a writer when I was 12 years old. I was in residential school, living far from my family. I got sick and was in the High Prairie, Alberta, hospital. I read an article in LOOK magazine with colour photos of the American writer Ernest Hemingway. He travelled the world and it looked like fun. I like to travel, and being a writer has made it possible. But the best is meeting students, sharing my stories about my traditional culture, and hearing about theirs.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

In the past, most of what I read about our traditional Aboriginal way of life was written by non-First Nations authors. They didn't know us, or our lifestyle, and often got it wrong. I lived a traditional way of life as a young child. I learned how to survive in the forest, how to share with family, and what I could do to help out. It was a beautiful way of life, with nature surrounding me. It was a loving circle of life. I am honoured to share some of this knowledge with students in the Well Aware series.

What advice do you have for young writers?

If you write about a culture that is not yours, do your homework, and write about it in a truthful way. Research is the basis for good writing. Even if you write about something you believe you know well, check it out. I wrote about owls in my award-winning book As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood). Although I remembered everything about the abandoned owl that we cared for as children, I still checked everything. My best source was a book on owls from the children's section of the library. I didn't need to go on the Internet. It was all in that book, in one place, including neat photographs and drawings of owls.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

My books must be good because they are bestsellers. Here's my goal: when I write about my culture, I don't make anything up. It's all true. A good story or book is trustworthy. It doesn't tell lies. I always include adventures, like my grandmother Bella's encounter with the biggest grizzly bear in North America in As Long as the Rivers Flow (Groundwood). It's also important to include emotions in a book. My book Goodbye Buffalo Bay (Theytus), the sequel to As Long as the Rivers Flow, is truthful, has many adventures, and emotions, both happy and sad. Although it is the story of my days in residential school, and moving on at 13 years of age, it does have a positive ending. I always look for the positive in every story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Mumbai, India, and I now live in Toronto, Canada.

What do you like best about being a writer?

The process of creating something out of nothing and the sense of power I have in the world I have created. It’s a wonderful feeling!

A couple of years ago, I was invited by the Thorncliffe Branch of the Toronto Public Library to be a Human Book. It was a fabulous experience for me and I hope it was the same for my "readers."

Many asked me what it was like being a writer and this is what I said: If you do not like the process of writing and re-writing, don’t even think of being a writer. But if you love it, this is one of the most creative ways to express yourself. I mainly write fantasy fiction and it’s such a joy to create something out of a bunch of disparate ideas. I’ve done it four times now and yet, if someone were to ask me how I wrote a novel, I would be at a loss for words to describe it exactly. You have to do it to know it.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I love the goal and mission of this particular series, which is to address the mental wellness of our youth. I wanted to be part of the solution to provide tools in order to help them through the various issues they face in today’s fast-paced, stressful life.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Read a lot. From every genre: your favourite as well as stuff you aren’t particularly interested in. There’s always something to learn.

To be a writer, you need to write as often as possible. Just as with any sport where practice makes perfect, so, too, with writing. You have to get the bad writing out of the way to get to the good stuff. And the only way to do that is to write every single day if possible.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

A story that compels you to stay with it, where you have absolutely no choice but to keep turning the pages, and when you think about the characters and their fates long after the last page has been turned. All those, to me, make a good book.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Fort Smith, NWT, and now I live in Edmonton, Alberta.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I get up every morning and I dive into the stories that I've been working on for years. It seems the characters I've been visiting with for years aren't done with me (thank goodness!), as they keep popping up in new stories: sometimes they are younger; sometimes they are older. They are dear friends who whisper beautiful secrets to me.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I knew in a second that I had to write for this series, as the issue of mental health is very important to me. I am so grateful for the opportunity!

What advice do you have for young writers?

Read read read.
Ask ask ask.
Listen with your blood.
Trust that inner voice.
Dream dream dream.
Watch watch watch.
Wonder wonder wonder.
Live bravely.
Defend what's most precious to you.
Remember: the best part of being a writer is you get to fix what is broken in the world and find what has been lost. Author Lee Maracle shared that with me in 1991, and I've used this thought as soul medicine ever since.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

Unforgettable characters in tough situations. Seeing how they'll do.

The NWT Arts logo identifies authentic NWT arts created by a registered artist/author of the NWT Arts Program. When shopping for an authentic piece of artwork or literature, be sure to look for the NWT Arts logo. This mark of authenticity ensures your purchase was made by a registered artist/author of the NWT Arts Program and helps support this sustainable, local industry.

Author photo: Mark Mushet

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Fort Smith, NWT, and now I live in Edmonton, Alberta.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I get up every morning and I dive into the stories that I've been working on for years. It seems the characters I've been visiting with for years aren't done with me (thank goodness!), as they keep popping up in new stories: sometimes they are younger; sometimes they are older. They are dear friends who whisper beautiful secrets to me.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I knew in a second that I had to write for this series, as the issue of mental health is very important to me. I am so grateful for the opportunity!

What advice do you have for young writers?

Read read read.
Ask ask ask.
Listen with your blood.
Trust that inner voice.
Dream dream dream.
Watch watch watch.
Wonder wonder wonder.
Live bravely.
Defend what's most precious to you.
Remember: the best part of being a writer is you get to fix what is broken in the world and find what has been lost. Author Lee Maracle shared that with me in 1991, and I've used this thought as soul medicine ever since.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

Unforgettable characters in tough situations. Seeing how they'll do.

The NWT Arts logo identifies authentic NWT arts created by a registered artist/author of the NWT Arts Program. When shopping for an authentic piece of artwork or literature, be sure to look for the NWT Arts logo. This mark of authenticity ensures your purchase was made by a registered artist/author of the NWT Arts Program and helps support this sustainable, local industry.

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A Dedication from Richard Van Camp

I’d like to dedicate Whistle to Adam Butcher, Chloe Rose, Kiowa Gordon, Joel Evans, Anita Doron, Christina Piovesan, Alex Lalonde, Benjamin Bratt, Jason Knight, Brendan Stacey and everyone behind the movie The Lesser Blessed with First Generation Films. I’d also like to thank everyone from my hometown of Fort Smith (past, present and future) for nurturing the spirit of this novel and the novel, The Lesser Blessed. This is book nine in the Simmer Series when you count my short story collections, “Angel Wing Splash Pattern,” “The Moon of Letting Go,” “Godless but Loyal to Heaven,” “Night Moves,” the novel, The Lesser Blessed, my comics, Kiss Me Deadly and Path of the Warrior as well as my graphic novel, Three Feathers.

Whistle was inspired by the last scene in the movie, The Lesser Blessed, where Darcy McManus says, “Larry, they are sending me to a group home for what I did to you. I thought you should know that.”

When I watched this scene for the very first time at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 9th at 4:00pm in 2012, I realized that I had a responsibility to write about what happened to Darcy after the novel and the movie ended.

I want to thank Elynor Kagan of Pearson Canada for writing and asking me to work on a small novel that focuses on mental health.

I am grateful to her and to everyone in Fort Smith and to everyone behind The Lesser Blessed: the characters, the publisher, my editor, Barbara Pulling, and to everyone behind the movie, especially Adam Butcher. His voice, his eyes, the way he moves—he is the perfect Darcy McManus.

I pray that Whistle helps anyone who reads it.

Mahsi cho and with respect,
Richard Van Camp

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Author photo: Mark Mushet

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and now I live in Vancouver, British Columbia.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I love being able to create the images that are in my head and to put them into a medium I can share with others. As a professional illustrator you don't always get to draw what you want, but I find the challenge of meeting both the needs of the project and my own artistic vision very exciting.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

My good friend Richard Van Camp asked me to illustrate his newest story and I was honored to do so. In addition, the subject matter is important to me.

What is your advice for young writers?

If you're serious about becoming an illustrator, whether a comic book artist, video game artist, or animator, don't just learn to draw the things you like, learn to draw EVERYTHING. One of the hardest lessons you'll learn is that you don't always get to draw what you want. You need to adapt to the needs of the project.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

I think the thing that makes a good story is how well the creator helps you relate to the characters and their situations. I can't relate to flying a spaceship in a galaxy far far away. but I can relate to a scruffy nerf herder who has more guts than brains because the creators made him relatable. The what or where of a story doesn't matter as much as, the who, why, and how. If you can make an audience care about the why, then you can relate to them.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Washington, D.C. Now I live in Toronto, Ontario with my husband and two daughters.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I really enjoy learning new things to include them in a story. The research for Well Aware was really interesting, and getting to ask people about their lives is fun.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

Being able to express yourself in a creative way is so satisfying, and I think sometimes we forget how much a part of being human it is. I think the series is a reminder of that, in a fun and inspiring way.

What advice do you have for young writers?

WRITE! That is the most important thing. Just keep doing it. You will turn out tonnes of stuff you hate, but it's all worth it when you create something just right.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

This is a tough one. I think having a character that the reader wants to follow is probably the main thing. But I also need the plot to keep moving. I like mysteries and adventures that keep you wondering where they're going to end up.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Vancouver. When I was one year old, my parents decided they'd rather raise their children in a small town. They moved to Creston, in B.C.'s interior region. It was a lovely place to roam around on my bike when I was ten. By the time I was 13, I wanted malls and movie theatres and concerts and bookstores. Now I'm back in Vancouver, living just a few blocks from where I was born. And I love it.

What do you like best about being a writer?

Writers get to find (or invent) fascinating stories, and tell them in the most interesting ways possible. To me, that's a dream job.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

Mental illness affects so many different people in so many ways. I thought my story might appeal to kids living in similar situations. I wish I'd had a series like Well Aware when I was in school!

What is your advice for young writers?

Writing is as much a test of perseverance as a test of talent or skill. Keep writing, and writing, and writing, no matter what. Listen to suggestions, learn as much as you can, and then ... again ... keep writing.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

In a good story, an interesting character must overcome challenge after challenge. I write a lot of non-fiction, and the elements of a good story are the same. But instead of making up a character and inventing challenges, I have to find stories that already have those elements. Fortunately for me, the world is full of strange tales.

Author photo: Kristen Hovet

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Turner Valley, Alberta. I currently live in a log cabin in the forest near Bragg Creek, Alberta, which is high in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I get lots of wild animals visiting such as bears, cougars, moose, deer, bobcats, lynx, rabbits, flying squirrels, rabbits, elk, and many other critters that wander the forest. It is very peaceful here and a great place to write.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I get to create and explore unknown worlds as I write my novels, and I meet interesting people in the pages of my stories. Being a writer means I control everything that happens to these people and the worlds they live in. I also like discussing my novels with students who have read the books. Readers are very important and I love to hear from them.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I can understand the pressures and difficulties students face as they strive to succeed in today’s hectic world. With the internet and social media, it is easy for students to have a spotlight shone on them. If the focus of that spotlight is positive, that’s great; but if the focus is negative, it can be very hard to overcome. We all need help sometimes and it is wonderful to know that there are parents, teachers, counsellors, and wonderful stories that will help students understand that they are not alone in facing their problems.

What advice do you have for young writers?

First and foremost: READ!!!! Read the genre you want to write, but read other types of stories as well. This does all sorts of wonderful things for your brain, especially the part that fires up the imagination.

I would also advise students to save all their stories and ideas on a flash drive. You never know when you will want to go back and polish up a story or expand on an idea. Just because you aren’t a professional writer now doesn’t mean you won’t be one in the future. Perhaps one of those great ideas you have saved will become the basis for your newest novel.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

I think a good story starts with great characters. If the reader doesn’t care about the characters, then the story falls flat—even if the plot is dangerous and exciting. Write a profile of your main characters. Include your protagonist’s looks, quirks, likes and dislikes, fears and passions—everything that makes them real to you. Create a birthday for your character, snip out a picture from a magazine of a person who best embodies the looks of your hero, then do the same for your antagonist. Understand their good points and strengths but also their bad aspects and weaknesses. No character should be all good or all bad. Real people aren’t like that and you want your character to be as real as possible to your readers. Make them 3-D. Know your character inside and out!

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia. When I decided to become a fulltime writer, my wife and I built a house on the Bay of Fundy near the village of Port George. My study overlooks the water, and every day I watch seals and seabirds and bald eagles diving for fish. Once I even saw a whale breach beyond my window. It’s an amazing place.

What do you like best about being a writer?

For me, the hardest thing is facing a blank computer screen at the beginning of a project, so I really enjoy the feeling I experience when I write the final sentence of a first draft. The very best thing about being a writer is hearing from readers who have connected strongly with my stories. I recently received an email from a young man who decided to become a police officer after reading The First Stone. Like one of the characters in that story, he wanted to spend his life helping young people whose lives have taken a wrong turn. Writing is hard and often frustrating, but hearing things like that makes it all worthwhile.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

As a teacher, I taught many students who struggled with a variety of challenges, and I loved the idea of writing a book that might help young people understand and cope with a challenge that they—or someone they know—might be facing.

What advice do you have for young writers?

First, read as much as you can, especially the kinds of things you want to write. Just like an apprentice who works alongside a master craftsperson learning the trade, you’ll better understand how to write well by seeing how published authors tell their stories. Second, write about what you know. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tackle things you don’t know—you just have to learn all you can about them first. When I wrote Always Even, I did a lot of research on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, including speaking with people who cope with it. Whatever subject you choose to write about, immerse yourself in it until you feel confident you can write about it effectively.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

The best stories are never about events—they’re about how characters are affected by events. I was hired to write a historical novel about the fall of Fortress Louisbourg in 1758, but before I could write a word of that story, I had to invent a character who would be at the center of it. I didn’t just have to understand his role during the siege. I also had to figure out his backstory (where he had come from, why he had gone to Louisbourg, who his friends and family were, what his hopes for the future might be). Figuring out all these things helped me know how he would react when Louisbourg was under attack. A three-dimensional character is at the heart of every good story, so the more time a writer spends developing that character, the better the story.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in and I currently still live in Toronto, Ontario. I have also had the chance to travel and hope to do more of it in the future.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I like the opportunity to share what I have learned, or seen, or come to understand. I like being able to use my writing as if I was having a chance to speak with you​ and to answer questions that you might have.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

I think that we all go through things as part of the process of living. We may not realize how common some of those “things” might be. The hurts, the joys, the awkward moments—we don't always talk about them but when someone else does, in a book or a conversation, it makes it easier to deal with them, to be “well aware.”

What is your advice for young writers?

Read! Read and listen to great speakers. Figure out what your passion is and begin!

What do you think makes a good story or book?

A good story or a good book is compelling because it speaks to you, or it helps you to find the answers to the questions you knew you had or to discover new questions. It can give you a new way of looking at something, including yourself.

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Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and I live in Toronto, Ontario.

What do you like best about being a writer?

Seeing my words in a book. Knowing they’re valuable enough to earn me money. Realizing that they can make a difference—readers often tell me they have derived some benefit from the stories I’ve worked so hard to create.

When a story comes together out of nothing but shreds of thoughts and wisps of ideas, and it becomes something, you think, “Yeah! That’s cool! I’d read that!” And sometimes, if I’m especially fortunate, the story will make me laugh or cry.

And then there’s meeting the people who read them. I travel the world to share my stories, and I find that many of my readers really got something out of them. My stories changed my readers in some way for the better (usually). That’s really neat!

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

When I heard about the goal of the Well Aware series as being stories that will help students become more aware of mental health, I thought, “Yeah. I’m in.” I especially wanted my story to remind everyone that we should all be judged based on our actions, not on what others who look like us might do.

What advice do you have for young writers?

Reach down deep and find the feelings you think only you feel—the really honest feelings that you’re kind of embarrassed to share. Look at why you feel them, and how you came to feel that way, and see if you can write a story about that. Real writing exposes deep inner truths. And it can leave you feeling kind of exposed, but hopefully in a good way. And practise! Read, read, read and then write, write, write!

What do you think makes a good story or book?

Good stories teach us something, often about human nature. If the characters are well thought-out and well-realized, we see them interacting. Even when they’re being silly or illogical they can still make sense. I often write to explore something I haven’t quite figured out yet, so even as I’m discovering what the characters are up to and what they’re learning, so is the reader.

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Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born in Scarborough, Ontario and I now live in Toronto, Ontario.

What do you like best about being a writer?

My favorite part about being a writer is telling stories that will last the test of time. I think sharing personal history is important. It allows readers to realize that they aren't the only ones experiencing a tough time.

Writing hasn't always been easy for me. In school, I would leave my English assignments to the last minute because I found writing so difficult. I always felt like the words I wrote didn't capture how I felt. I thought what I wrote wasn't good enough, so I started rushing my assignments and my writing got even worse. It wasn't until I was pushed to share my writing through a school blog that I realized my writing and stories had the power to help other people. After that experience, writing wasn't as scary and I started to enjoy it. Even though my writing wasn't perfect, it helped me share my messages to places as far away as Tokyo, and I made new friends in the process.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

As a young person, I often struggled with my mental health, but it wasn't something talked about in school. I thought no other students were going through the same struggles I was and therefore would not understand. Because of this, I tried my best to ignore how I was feeling, but that just made it worse. I was miserable for a very long time. It wasn't until I told a friend about my experience that I learnt that she had dealt with the same thing when she moved to Canada. The more I talked to people about feeling depressed and anxious, the more I met people who had experienced the same thing.

I wanted to write this book to show students across Canada that experiencing mental illness is more common than it might appear. More importantly, having a mental illness doesn't mean you can't live a happy and healthy life.

What advice do you have for young writers?

I would tell you to just write. Write journals or blogs. The more you write, the better you get, and you will start to understand the kind of writing you like. I would also say not to be too hard on yourself. We all have times when our writing isn't as good as we want it to be. Keep a book full of the nice things people say about your writing (teachers, friends, family) and look at it anytime you think you are bad at writing. It really helps.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

A good story is one that takes me on a roller coaster ride. It has parts that make me think, and parts that make me laugh. The most important part is that it shows me something (a perspective, lesson, or issue) I had not considered before.

Q&A

Where were you born, and where do you live now?

I was born and raised in a small town called Bowness, northwest of Calgary, Alberta. That town has since been consumed by Calgary. At the time I was growing up, you would regularly see deer grazing along the river and you had to take two buses to travel to Calgary. I presently live in Calgary, about ten minutes from the university where I teach.

What do you like best about being a writer?

I enjoy the process of thinking about something deeply. Life moves very swiftly, and events fly by. The process of trying to express something to others through writing makes you sit with things longer and I enjoy that time spent reflecting. As you pause to reflect upon your thoughts and perceptions, certain aspects snap into focus. Sometimes this process allows you to make surprising discoveries.

What made you interested in writing a book for the Well Aware series?

Coping with a mental illness tends to be a misunderstood and terribly isolating experience. Almost everyone I’ve spoken to who has had a firsthand experience with a mental illness has reflected on what a lonely sensation it is. I wanted to share coping strategies, and to reach out to those struggling to support individuals with mental illnesses.

What is your advice for young writers?

When you prepare to write, consider subjects that most interest you. If you have a passion for something, that passion will likely inform your writing. What excites you is most likely to excite your readers as well.

What do you think makes a good story or book?

I think it is the writer’s ability to evoke an entire world through the selection of a few specific, brilliant details that makes a story powerful.

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