What was your childhood like?
Surely a little different between age 4-8 as I was navigating 3 heart procedures and 3.5years of treatment for Leukaemia. I was homeschooled and wearing a mask in all public places (before it was cool) because my immunity was so low. I was homeschooled until grade 3, which I quickly noticed my social skills were behind. But having a parent in the police service, we moved every year until grade 9, helping me become a natural socializer, even as an introvert. I was very fortunate otherwise to have grown up mostly in country settings and have most memories of building tree forts, getting bucked off of calves, and picking frogs out of the backwood streams.
What is the most savage thing you did in high school that made you popular?
Between our two rival highschools, we were both barely short of having enough boys for a highschool rugby team. I proposed we merged schools to play against the much bigger city schools. Both principals subtly committed to what was a petty dislike of eachother and said it wasn't doable. I called them together and told them that our sports were more important than their petty rivalry and getting in the way of us building character and comeraderie.
We won them a championship banner that year.
Who are a part of your family and how do they give you stories and ideas to work on?
(The beginning of this question is worded funky so forgive me if I don't answer this correctly.)
I couldn't have lucked out more by having two elder brothers who were so passionate about their guided hunting careers. It was the foundation and network they laid out by the time I was 19 to offer me the opportunity for us three to take 14 horses and do (What we understand to be) the worlds longest trail ride, 500km, from the middle of the Yukon into the Northwest Territories, to live off grid as Big Game Horseback Guides for 100days at a time.
When and why did you choose to become an author? Whom do you write for?
It was during my second season horseback guiding, day 67, when I was alone, surrounded by wolves in the middle of the night, had a stand-off with a grizzly, and thought my brother was dead for 5 days. The wolves and two grizzles circled my camp on and off for a week as I was pinned down, unable to go out looking for my brother. (This story is in great detail in 'An Arsenal of Gratitude')
In this week of terror, I spent some time swearing at the sky, wondering why I was out here when I could be where I knew I was at my best and more valuable as a Counselor at Kids Cancer Care's Camp Kindle. I realized I carried a Game of Thrones book 500km by horseback to have something to relax with and realized that if I had the audacity to write a fantasy book (Grim's Prodigies) then I could dedicate 10% to Kid's Cancer Care and even if I died in the wilderness, SOMETHING could exist to pay it forward. I owe that week of stress, not knowing if my brother was alive (He is) to have this breakpoint moment to make each moment I have of life to be calculated and for a greater purpose.
I wrote the fiction for a more mature audience, but my non-fiction for anybody lacking purpose, direction, and peace in their everyday life.
What challenges did you face while writing a story about a teenage orphan in "Of Black Sheep and Shadows"?
That character was majorly inspired by my own sensation of being a 'black sheep' and misunderstood most of my upbringing. His birthmarks stretching over his face, much like my profound resting-bitch-face, had many people overlook him and never receive the benefit of the doubt for his pure intentions. Despite the desire for acceptance, a courageous mistake of his led to what became a far more grand adventure for him.
How do you write a good relationship between two characters with different personalities?
Personally, I think two conflicting characters have to be stubborn with deep-rooted validities on their stance to amplify a compelling argument. It's never good vs. evil. It's two side who entirely believe they are good. but SOMEWHERE in the depth of their differing views can be a common value or mission that makes them inseperably valuable to each other. Even if those characters despise one another, something bigger than them can demand they both compromise in a beautiful way that transcends their stubborness and pride.
Isn’t historical accuracy necessary for a fantasy story?
Heck, even our own history is wildly skewed by whichever perspective is narrating it. Continuity is sure important in an expansive fantasy world, otherwise a reader's buy-in can get lost very quickly. But the differing perspective of 'history' can be used as a tool for a plot twist in a bold new world.
Having 63 named characters by the end of the second 'Grim's Prodigies' book, you best believe I obsessed over the historical accuracy of that world. The pinboard of sticky-notes and string tying it all together was legit.
What discovery, insight, or piece of knowledge has transformed your view of the world in adult life?
The blooper real of our life is a far more realistic and loveable angle than the highlight reel everybody is trying to sell each other. I am entirely an amalgamation of flaws stitched together with good intentions. How we all deliver and fall short of those best intentions is each of our unique flavour of personality. We are all lost, making it up with the best guess. That's why meeting one person and hearing a new perspective and story can radically change our outlook and trajectory. Networking is the most valuable skill I ever learned.
What are the precautions one must take while mountain climbing?
Prepare for the bottom of the mountain to feel like summer and the top to feel like winter.
For gear, better to have and not need than want and not have. Going up heavy allows you to enjoy the view for longer.
Stress test every single rock you step on.
Do your best to leave no trace so the next can appreciate the awe-induced silence of their successful summit.
Is a pair of Crocs a good shoe for river crossing?
I'd argue Crocs are the best! One pair of Crocs lasted 300 days off grid and easily a hundred kilometres on foot and hundreds of river-crossings.
But also, if you have rubber boots and good enough rain pants, you can suction-cup the bottom of your rain pants to your boots and shuffle through the water and stay dry! If you raise your foot too much and break the suction, you get a mad rush of soaked boots that can carry you down the river. It's a satisfying trick if you get it right or a huge bummer if you get it wrong.
As a cancer survivor, what were the first red flags that something was wrong?
Only being 4 years old, my mother said even a flu wouldn't stop me from playing, but this time I was really slowing down. I was napping on the couch and woke up screaming. Every vein in my left leg from the knee down had exploded and looked like snake skin. By the time I got the the major-city hospital they said my bloodstream was 90% cancer cells and I had 48hours to get a blood transfusion or I wouldn't have made it.
What gives hope to humanity?
Well I am sure biased towards the answer of gratitude! When you have a concrete sense of how much you really have, you have a much better sense of your arsenal of character qualities, relationships, and skills to get where you want to go. As well with gratitude, it helps destroy what I consider one of the most destructive mentalities that 'I'll be happy when...'. If you can be joyful now, then everything gained and experienced from this point forward is a bonus. Gratitude enriches all that you already have, so just the act of taking a grateful inventory and expressing it is an act of enriching the world, which is the tide that raises all ships in a time of difficulty.
What is one small act of gratitude you did today?
I listened to a wonderful podcast on attachment theory and healthy relationships. I ended up sharing it with 6 close friends and told each of them why it was relevant and how each of them individually elevated my standards of what a healthy relationship can and could be.
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers and fans? When can they expect a new book?
To my readers, I read every message, every comment, and have many of your names written across my 6000 notes of gratitude over the last 4 years. I am honoured to have earned your time and I hope my work continues add value!
As for expectations, coming late 2023, the big brother to 'An Arsenal of Gratitude' will be 'Pissed Off With a Purpose.'
The synopsis for 'Pissed Off With a Purpose' goes:
'Your frustration looks a lot like tolerance. That’s how we got here, isn’t it?
In our world where suicides and and overdoses are leading causes of death, ‘Pissed Off With a Purpose’ makes a case of grace and radical action for mankind. There is not a single sensation or emotion we are given that has not been uniquely designed for us to navigate and master this life. Our anger is a deep-rooted calling to undo the injustice that has been laid across this life. Our rage has been corrupted through our insecurities and lack of understanding. ‘Pissed Off With a Purpose’ is a homecoming for our bitterness and discontent to re-calibrate reality into a meaningful place and purpose in life. A reason to live. A reason things were better because we were here.
To wage war on fear, we must be intelligent and dangerous. Without the ability to deliver justice, our grace means nothing. May our madness be made into music and our sorrows into survival guides.'
Who or what introduced you to AllAuthor? How would you describe your experience so far?
I actually found it thanks to Analei Skye! Many author resources and platforms have been rather underwhelming and impersonal, but AllAuthor is a genuinely vast and personable way to connect to new readers and authors. The resources of AllAuthor is also second-to-none as far as my 5 year author career has witnessed. I appreciate all that AllAuthor is and is becoming!
