“A rising tide lifts all boats.” John F. Kennedy. Investment in the economy benefits all those who participate in it. Therefore, everyone in that economy, theoretically, would encourage that investment. However, a disturbing economic reality is that sometimes the more apt word picture is that of crabs in a bucket. When one begins to climb…
Letters in the Woods is a finalist in the Word Awards
Today is an exciting day for Letters in the Woods! The shortlist for the Word Awards was announced and Letters in the Woods, illustrated by Sara Thompson, was chosen as a finalist in the children’s fiction/non-fiction category. The Word Awards is a national award hosted by The Word Guild to recognize excellence in Christian writing.…
Celebrating difference
My characters have taught me a lot. When I first started Embers, a character I hadn’t planned on showed up on the page. Alex was 15, a star basketball player at his high school and a favourite target of the school’s bullying trio. He also had Down syndrome. As I wrote my story, it was…
Reimagining a diagnosis of Down’s syndrome
New parents of children born with Down syndrome are typically given a very dire outlook on their child's future. That is, if they haven't been counseled months earlier to have an abortion and terminate that child's life. Some are surprised with the news at the birth of their baby, all scans having been normal throughout…
Back-to-school daze
Remember when back to school meant shopping for supplies, buying new clothes and seeing friends you had missed all summer? This year, our kids are facing a very different kind of back to school season. No matter what it looks like, let’s not forget to celebrate! Take those awkward back to school pictures, buy the…