Teaching has always been one of my greatest passions, second only to being a mom. I graduated from the Concurrent Education Program at York University, Faculty of Education in 1995 and spent several years teaching in the Primary and Junior divisions. Eventually, I stepped away from the classroom to focus on my family and pursue a long-held dream of becoming a children’s book author.
As an elementary school teacher, I quickly learned that every child arrives at school carrying a backpack that you do see, filled with books, supplies, lunches—and another backpack that you don’t see, filled with their feelings and experiences. As a parent, I came to understand even more deeply how much support children need as they navigate their emotions through the different stages of their lives.
When I finally sat down to write, these insights became the heart of my stories. The Backpack Series is rooted in fostering children’s mental health and well-being by teaching emotional awareness and offering simple, practical strategies to help young readers understand and manage their feelings.
I’m passionate about championing children’s mental health—especially during today’s ongoing local and global challenges. My hope is to inspire confidence, resilience, and emotional readiness in young people. Ultimately, my goal for The Backpack Series is to support the mental health and well-being of readers of all ages.
I’m the mother of two grown children, Michael and Jessica, and I live in Toronto with my husband, John.