About
1) What is the best thing that I love about my work?
Which job? I was a nurse for twenty years and the most life-changing positions that I was assigned were as an ER, Chemotherapy, and Psychiatric nurse. ER because it gave me a real sense of mortality, Chemotherapy because I was fortunate enough and honoured to care for many Holocaust survivors there. They were the ones who inspired me to write their stories in a “Harlequin Romance, Epic, Historical, Political Thriller” style of book. I did it too, in a story titled, “No Guarantee”, and I read it to them. They were thrilled.
Psychiatry allowed me to meet young men who were would-be terrorists. However, their behaviour, whether it was rages, bizarre behaviour etc. stopped them from carrying on their schemes and landed them in Psychiatry for psychological assessment.
My second job was as a radio-show producer/host of the internationally heard Boker-Tov radio show where I interviewed hundreds of people – writers, politicians, soldiers, Israelis and Jews. My writing was the thread that was woven through all of my careers and my work can be seen in more than a dozen anthology books, including many Chicken Soup for the Soul series. My favourite is in the Chicken Soup for the Empty Nesters.
I have also written two plays, one of which has been onstage.
I founded the Windsor International Writers Conference in 2014. Since then, I have organized more than 25 events, including two (2) international writers conferences, three (3)Young Authors summer camps for ages eight and up (and we never turned a child away), one (1) Children's Arts Festival, a dozen writers workshops, an after-school program entitled, I Want to be a Writer. This year we've added A TASTE OF LITERATURE a monthly event where newly published authors present their work accompanied by a dinner based on the theme of their book.
2) What is my idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is having my family with me on a sunny, peaceful beach. That's corny, I know, but it's true. I have a tremendous family starting with my husband whose love gives me the courage and strength to do what I do.
3)What is my greatest fear?
My greatest fear is heights. I am terrified of heights.
4) What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I would have to say my lack of self-esteem is my most deplorable trait. Then there is my Irish/Jewish/German/ Czech temper. I do not lose it often, but when I do, look out!
5) The people in my writing profession that I most admire would be the authors I love to read most and the writers who pay it forward to wannabe writers and show them the tricks of the trade. My favourite author is Ken Follett, hands down. And then there are the mentors in my life – the ones who reply when I need advice at three in the morning and fire off a question..Carol Rehme, Laura Taylor, Marty Gervais. My most ardent mentor was the late Alistair MacLeod. There is Michael Steven Gregory from the San Diego Conference who showed a conference newbie how to get the most out of attending a conference. Author John Mayer – the first person who told me I could write.
6) What is my greatest extravagance? I live in Canada. I love swimming every day and I detest winter. My biggest extravagance is keeping my outdoor swimming pool open AND heated until the end of October. You have to appreciate and bless the husband who merely groans when the heating bill comes in every month.
7) On what occasion would I lie? Because I have an awful memory, I would have to say I never lie – until recently. My mother-in-law has senile dementia and she is fairly confused but continues to have sense of what is happening. However, she has short term memory issues so she forgets and when she is reminded of an event it is as if she is hearing it for the first time all over again. When her brother died two years ago, and when her eldest son recently died, we decided not to tell her. When she asks where they are, I tell her they are at their homes out of town.
8) The most difficult thing involved in promoting a writers conference is getting media outlets to recognize what the conference is doing. What with all of their cutbacks and so much else happening in the world, they have very little time for an event that is so positive and exciting.
9) There are a few times in my work when I have been extremely happy. The first was when I was in Israel for three weeks researching for my manuscript “Only the Dead Find Peace”. Every time I finish a final edit makes me extremely happy. Getting published is a thrill beyond compare. Then there was meeting Naomi Ragen. Sigh – and when the kindest, gentlest soul I know, Michael Greyeyes, hugged me after I introduced him at the 2014 Writers Conference. A great man.
10) If I could, what would I change about myself? If I could not be a type 2 Diabetic with all of the ramifications that come with that, including the horrible weight gain, I would be happy. At one point in my life I was a size 3 and I modeled part-time!
11) The greatest achievement in my life would be my near forty-year marriage to one of the most brilliant, noble and honourable men I know and the raising of three fabulous kids. My position as a psychiatric nurse was particularly fulfilling. I worked with teenagers and, as every parent knows, when you ask a teenager what behaviour or event caused them to be committed to the psychiatric unit, they would shrug and say “I dunno.” As their nurse I would make them write down in five pages what they thought were the reasons for their admission in the unit. That writing was often the breakthrough needed for them to start healing. Many of them went on to keep journals and a few of them became writers.
12) Where would I most like to live? Someplace warm! Don't get me wrong, I love Canada. It's just that I like being warm and being able to swim every day, throughout the year. There are several locations I've loved – Sarasota, Florida, Costa Rica, Maui, and Eilat, Israel.
13) My most treasured possession would be my two dogs, Max – a Shepherd/Collie mix, and Brinkley – a Cairn terrier. These canines are the best friends a gal could have. Max has saved my life more than once when my sugar has dropped to a dangerous low in the night. He instinctively knows I'm in trouble and wakes me every time.
14) My most marked characteristic would probably be that I am brutally honest and often blunt. I cannot abide Racism and discrimination and fight them every chance I get. And I giggle. A lot.
15) The most inspirational location in my geographical region would have to be Point Pelee National Park during bird migration. Next to that is wherever my two grandchildren happen to be.
16) Picking my favourite place to eat and drink in Windsor is next to impossible! We have over 240 different ethnic groups and many of them have excellent restaurants. So, it depends on my mood – Italian? Spago's on Erie Street. Greek food? Thanasis. Middle Eastern? The Windsor Palace or Mazaar's. The list is endless.
17) What books influenced my life and how? Wow! Now there's a question and a half. The Great Gatsby and Prince of Tides for the sheer beauty of the descriptions and how the stories flowed have to be up there. They inspired me to try my hand at writing. The Torah. The writings of Hillel.
18) Who are my favorite writers? Ken Follett, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pat Conroy, Leon Uris, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood, and Shakespeare are a few who come to mind.
19) You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? I am a music fanatic so this is next to impossible for me to answer – my favourite music is opera – Turandot by Puccini to be specific. Movie scores, especially by James Horner, Thomas Newman, Andre Desplatt, Hans Zimmer and Jerry Goldsmith. There are more. I love Broadway and a lot of the Jewish religious music like Kol Nidre. And then there's Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.
20) Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Oyyy!!!!! This is such a hard question! I go from the sublime to the ridiculous on this. Atticus Finch is right up there for sure. Harry Potter, James Bond. Actually, one of my all time favourite heroes is my own character in “Only the Dead Find Peace,” Ari ben Yesher. He's an Israeli soldier who is trying to find solutions to the strife in the Middle East.
21) Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My husband is my all time hero. He keeps me humble. I was in awe of all of my Holocaust survivors. I'm not so sure I could have endured what they lived through and then continue to lead their lives. Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King –anyone who has the courage to stand up and fight for human rights and destroying Racism and Anti-Semitism.
22) Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? As a movie buff this is another difficult question. Schindler's List- for the horror of what was happening, Saving Private Ryan, To Kill a Mockingbird. Jurassic Park made a tremendously profound statement – Just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should – it certainly makes one take pause to think about how many things we humans did but in truth should never have done. I hope that movies like that can make an impact.
23) What role does art play in my life and work? I love art and am surrounded by it! I am in awe of creative souls. Writing, music, paintings and sculpture, dancing etc. etc. I love it all and it has brought me great joy.
24) Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? I always say my husband is my greatest fan and sponsor. He bought me a computer lo those many years ago when I said I wanted to write down my stories.
25) Whom would I like to work with in 2017? The publisher who will want to publish my latest manuscript!
26) Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2017? There truly are so many writers I would love to meet – Kenneth Follett, Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman are just a few.
27) There are two projects I am working on and I love both of them. The second book in my “Only the Dead Find Peace” series, and a children's book – “How Much do You Love Me?” My friend, Karen Kilbride, is doing the illustrations. And always I love putting together the next Writers Conference.
28) Where can you see me or my work in 2017? Right now, I have my founder and chairman hat on. November the 4th the Windsor International Writers is holding its first writers workshop of the season with guest artist, journalist and poet, Marty Gervais. Marty is the maven of observation and writing great characters and he's going to share his expertise. The WIW is initiating a new event – A TASTE OF LITERATURE. It is sponsored by the great Twisted Apron restaurant where local authors present their newest book. Dinner is based on the theme of each book. Then the author talks about their history, how the book came about. After a short reading, the books are available for purchase. I am also in the process, along with my fabulous steering committee, of putting together Windsor International Writers Conference 2018. One of the highlights is a debate on Cultural Appropriation in writing.
29) What do the words "Passion Never Retires" mean to me? For me, Passion is Life. I cannot imagine existing if I didn't have passion. I will always be most ardently passionate about my husband and my love for him and my family. I am passionate about my love of being Jewish and about my country Canada and my homeland Israel. I am passionate about writing and about the Windsor International Writers Conference. The conference helps all writers hone their craft and meet agents and publishers
Which job? I was a nurse for twenty years and the most life-changing positions that I was assigned were as an ER, Chemotherapy, and Psychiatric nurse. ER because it gave me a real sense of mortality, Chemotherapy because I was fortunate enough and honoured to care for many Holocaust survivors there. They were the ones who inspired me to write their stories in a “Harlequin Romance, Epic, Historical, Political Thriller” style of book. I did it too, in a story titled, “No Guarantee”, and I read it to them. They were thrilled.
Psychiatry allowed me to meet young men who were would-be terrorists. However, their behaviour, whether it was rages, bizarre behaviour etc. stopped them from carrying on their schemes and landed them in Psychiatry for psychological assessment.
My second job was as a radio-show producer/host of the internationally heard Boker-Tov radio show where I interviewed hundreds of people – writers, politicians, soldiers, Israelis and Jews. My writing was the thread that was woven through all of my careers and my work can be seen in more than a dozen anthology books, including many Chicken Soup for the Soul series. My favourite is in the Chicken Soup for the Empty Nesters.
I have also written two plays, one of which has been onstage.
I founded the Windsor International Writers Conference in 2014. Since then, I have organized more than 25 events, including two (2) international writers conferences, three (3)Young Authors summer camps for ages eight and up (and we never turned a child away), one (1) Children's Arts Festival, a dozen writers workshops, an after-school program entitled, I Want to be a Writer. This year we've added A TASTE OF LITERATURE a monthly event where newly published authors present their work accompanied by a dinner based on the theme of their book.
2) What is my idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is having my family with me on a sunny, peaceful beach. That's corny, I know, but it's true. I have a tremendous family starting with my husband whose love gives me the courage and strength to do what I do.
3)What is my greatest fear?
My greatest fear is heights. I am terrified of heights.
4) What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I would have to say my lack of self-esteem is my most deplorable trait. Then there is my Irish/Jewish/German/ Czech temper. I do not lose it often, but when I do, look out!
5) The people in my writing profession that I most admire would be the authors I love to read most and the writers who pay it forward to wannabe writers and show them the tricks of the trade. My favourite author is Ken Follett, hands down. And then there are the mentors in my life – the ones who reply when I need advice at three in the morning and fire off a question..Carol Rehme, Laura Taylor, Marty Gervais. My most ardent mentor was the late Alistair MacLeod. There is Michael Steven Gregory from the San Diego Conference who showed a conference newbie how to get the most out of attending a conference. Author John Mayer – the first person who told me I could write.
6) What is my greatest extravagance? I live in Canada. I love swimming every day and I detest winter. My biggest extravagance is keeping my outdoor swimming pool open AND heated until the end of October. You have to appreciate and bless the husband who merely groans when the heating bill comes in every month.
7) On what occasion would I lie? Because I have an awful memory, I would have to say I never lie – until recently. My mother-in-law has senile dementia and she is fairly confused but continues to have sense of what is happening. However, she has short term memory issues so she forgets and when she is reminded of an event it is as if she is hearing it for the first time all over again. When her brother died two years ago, and when her eldest son recently died, we decided not to tell her. When she asks where they are, I tell her they are at their homes out of town.
8) The most difficult thing involved in promoting a writers conference is getting media outlets to recognize what the conference is doing. What with all of their cutbacks and so much else happening in the world, they have very little time for an event that is so positive and exciting.
9) There are a few times in my work when I have been extremely happy. The first was when I was in Israel for three weeks researching for my manuscript “Only the Dead Find Peace”. Every time I finish a final edit makes me extremely happy. Getting published is a thrill beyond compare. Then there was meeting Naomi Ragen. Sigh – and when the kindest, gentlest soul I know, Michael Greyeyes, hugged me after I introduced him at the 2014 Writers Conference. A great man.
10) If I could, what would I change about myself? If I could not be a type 2 Diabetic with all of the ramifications that come with that, including the horrible weight gain, I would be happy. At one point in my life I was a size 3 and I modeled part-time!
11) The greatest achievement in my life would be my near forty-year marriage to one of the most brilliant, noble and honourable men I know and the raising of three fabulous kids. My position as a psychiatric nurse was particularly fulfilling. I worked with teenagers and, as every parent knows, when you ask a teenager what behaviour or event caused them to be committed to the psychiatric unit, they would shrug and say “I dunno.” As their nurse I would make them write down in five pages what they thought were the reasons for their admission in the unit. That writing was often the breakthrough needed for them to start healing. Many of them went on to keep journals and a few of them became writers.
12) Where would I most like to live? Someplace warm! Don't get me wrong, I love Canada. It's just that I like being warm and being able to swim every day, throughout the year. There are several locations I've loved – Sarasota, Florida, Costa Rica, Maui, and Eilat, Israel.
13) My most treasured possession would be my two dogs, Max – a Shepherd/Collie mix, and Brinkley – a Cairn terrier. These canines are the best friends a gal could have. Max has saved my life more than once when my sugar has dropped to a dangerous low in the night. He instinctively knows I'm in trouble and wakes me every time.
14) My most marked characteristic would probably be that I am brutally honest and often blunt. I cannot abide Racism and discrimination and fight them every chance I get. And I giggle. A lot.
15) The most inspirational location in my geographical region would have to be Point Pelee National Park during bird migration. Next to that is wherever my two grandchildren happen to be.
16) Picking my favourite place to eat and drink in Windsor is next to impossible! We have over 240 different ethnic groups and many of them have excellent restaurants. So, it depends on my mood – Italian? Spago's on Erie Street. Greek food? Thanasis. Middle Eastern? The Windsor Palace or Mazaar's. The list is endless.
17) What books influenced my life and how? Wow! Now there's a question and a half. The Great Gatsby and Prince of Tides for the sheer beauty of the descriptions and how the stories flowed have to be up there. They inspired me to try my hand at writing. The Torah. The writings of Hillel.
18) Who are my favorite writers? Ken Follett, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pat Conroy, Leon Uris, John Steinbeck, Margaret Atwood, and Shakespeare are a few who come to mind.
19) You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? I am a music fanatic so this is next to impossible for me to answer – my favourite music is opera – Turandot by Puccini to be specific. Movie scores, especially by James Horner, Thomas Newman, Andre Desplatt, Hans Zimmer and Jerry Goldsmith. There are more. I love Broadway and a lot of the Jewish religious music like Kol Nidre. And then there's Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.
20) Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Oyyy!!!!! This is such a hard question! I go from the sublime to the ridiculous on this. Atticus Finch is right up there for sure. Harry Potter, James Bond. Actually, one of my all time favourite heroes is my own character in “Only the Dead Find Peace,” Ari ben Yesher. He's an Israeli soldier who is trying to find solutions to the strife in the Middle East.
21) Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My husband is my all time hero. He keeps me humble. I was in awe of all of my Holocaust survivors. I'm not so sure I could have endured what they lived through and then continue to lead their lives. Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King –anyone who has the courage to stand up and fight for human rights and destroying Racism and Anti-Semitism.
22) Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? As a movie buff this is another difficult question. Schindler's List- for the horror of what was happening, Saving Private Ryan, To Kill a Mockingbird. Jurassic Park made a tremendously profound statement – Just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should – it certainly makes one take pause to think about how many things we humans did but in truth should never have done. I hope that movies like that can make an impact.
23) What role does art play in my life and work? I love art and am surrounded by it! I am in awe of creative souls. Writing, music, paintings and sculpture, dancing etc. etc. I love it all and it has brought me great joy.
24) Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? I always say my husband is my greatest fan and sponsor. He bought me a computer lo those many years ago when I said I wanted to write down my stories.
25) Whom would I like to work with in 2017? The publisher who will want to publish my latest manuscript!
26) Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2017? There truly are so many writers I would love to meet – Kenneth Follett, Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman are just a few.
27) There are two projects I am working on and I love both of them. The second book in my “Only the Dead Find Peace” series, and a children's book – “How Much do You Love Me?” My friend, Karen Kilbride, is doing the illustrations. And always I love putting together the next Writers Conference.
28) Where can you see me or my work in 2017? Right now, I have my founder and chairman hat on. November the 4th the Windsor International Writers is holding its first writers workshop of the season with guest artist, journalist and poet, Marty Gervais. Marty is the maven of observation and writing great characters and he's going to share his expertise. The WIW is initiating a new event – A TASTE OF LITERATURE. It is sponsored by the great Twisted Apron restaurant where local authors present their newest book. Dinner is based on the theme of each book. Then the author talks about their history, how the book came about. After a short reading, the books are available for purchase. I am also in the process, along with my fabulous steering committee, of putting together Windsor International Writers Conference 2018. One of the highlights is a debate on Cultural Appropriation in writing.
29) What do the words "Passion Never Retires" mean to me? For me, Passion is Life. I cannot imagine existing if I didn't have passion. I will always be most ardently passionate about my husband and my love for him and my family. I am passionate about my love of being Jewish and about my country Canada and my homeland Israel. I am passionate about writing and about the Windsor International Writers Conference. The conference helps all writers hone their craft and meet agents and publishers
