Tag: #Downsyndrome

Daring to dream

Like many high school graduates, Penelope Kildare is confronted with planning for her future. Unlike most of her peers, Penelope has Down Syndrome. Sweet and stubborn, Penelope has grown up challenging stereotypes but when she applies for college, she finds opposition lies closer to home than she ever imagined. https://read.amazon.ca/kp/embed?asin=B09QZ9987H&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_VHKNDERV75HT6M7HGZY5

Penelope: Chapter One

Free for readers of this website, the first chapter of my newest novel, Penelope. I hope you love reading about her as much as I enjoyed creating her story! Comment below and share! I’d love to hear what you think! CHAPTER 1 Penelope Kildare hung up her apron and marvelled again at how blessed she…… Continue reading Penelope: Chapter One

Penelope, dream chaser

What do you do when the people closest to you don’t believe in your dreams? You pursue them anyway! Penelope loves flowers. When she posts about enrolling in a horticulture program, her first obstacle is the trolls who flood her website with cruel comments. But her heart is broken when she discovers that there are…… Continue reading Penelope, dream chaser

Penelope has arrived!

Penelope: A Companion Novel to the Forged in Flames Series Penelope has been crushing stereotypes all her life. Born with Down syndrome, Penelope has always fought for the chance to prove herself. Now she has a new dream: to go to college. Convincing her family and boyfriend is her first hurdle. Facing the college admissions…… Continue reading Penelope has arrived!

Penelope’s Story

I wrote Penelope at a very dark time in my life with the hope of being lifted out of the sadness by a bright, compelling character. It worked. As Penelope came to life, I was able to see glimmers of days without despair. Now that the story is complete, I hope that it brings that…… Continue reading Penelope’s Story

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…… Continue reading Celebrating difference

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…… Continue reading Reimagining a diagnosis of Down’s syndrome

The call of adventure

“As he passed the signpost for the trails, he realized he couldn’t see the other boys anymore. Maybe they went home, he thought. He had a choice. Trails and adventure or go home the old boring way. The late evening sun shone low through the trees and lit up the woods with a peculiar green…… Continue reading The call of adventure