Frequently Asked Questions

Is it true that when you were growing up, your heroes were astronauts?
Yes. I remember watching our little black and white television set and saw the first astronaut, Neil Armstrong, land on the moon. You never forget something like that.

You studied Fine Arts at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Do you still paint?
No. But Martin Bridge loves art class. He’s a terrific painter. His superhero also happens to be an astronaut.

What is your favorite board game? Balderdash, where everyone makes up definitions. My least favorite is Scrabble. I don’t like spelling.

What led you to write children’s books?
Ever since I watched Neil Armstrong land on the moon, I have longed to be able blast off this planet and explore the unknown. Writing is the next best thing. Writing is the only place that I can say what I really want to say. I get to revisit my childhood and fix things. I get to see things from someone else’s point of view. And finally, I get to dedicate my work to all the important people in my life.

Who was the inspiration for Martin Bridge?
My husband and son, to whom the series is dedicated.

What autobiographical elements are included in the Martin Bridge series?
The Junior Badgers are based on my Girl Guide experiences. I once met an artist who made sculpture entirely out of scotch tape; Clark is based on him. I once had neighbors whose parrot escaped from their home in the dead of winter; I based Polly on that parrot. I once worked with a dancer who had a props shed, just like Stuart’s mom. The planet Astro was named in honor of our dog (who is no longer with us). I often use real Nova Scotia place names, like Carter’s Beach or Tupper Grove Park. And then there are my son’s experiences to turn to, like the science fairs he’s participated in, his fascination with making slime recipes, his love of flashlights, and the halloween costumes I made for him when he was little.

What are you working on now? I am working on a trilogy that involves the accidental capture of a giant lobster. For inspiration, I spent time on a lobster boat baiting traps, and I purchased, online, an enormous lobster claw from a retired fisherman who lives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

What is your advice to young writers?
Pay attention to interesting people around you who do ordinary things and ordinary people around you who do interesting things. Try to find the humor in both.