I grew up in Newfoundland, in a family of storytellers. Beginning at a young age, family members would pop into our house, or we would visit them. Sharing stories was always on the menu. While I didn’t realize it at the time, I now appreciate I was receiving a masterclass in how to spin a yarn.

I began retelling family stories, then included my own experiences in my roster. It’s rare that I don’t have a story to tell. The oral storytelling tradition of Newfoundland is in my bones.

In my writing, I often describe Newfoundland using adjectives such as mystical and curious. Why? To begin, it is an island. Like many islands, isolation, self-sufficiency, ruggedness, and humour form part of the identity of its people. Life is often dependent upon the waters surrounding the island, in the case of Newfoundland, the fierce North Atlantic. This way of life leads to superstitions and unique folklore. Many nations have claimed, settled, and explored Newfoundland, including indigenous Beothuk and Mi’kmaq peoples. Add to that Vikings, Portuguese, Spanish, Basques, French, and English explorers. Newfoundland also has a history of magical fairies, and some have suggested one of the four corners of the flat earth is in Newfoundland.

It was a natural evolution for me to shift from storytelling to writing fiction. The joy of writing fiction is not knowing where the story will take you; it changes as it’s being written. Characters take on a life of their own and the story meanders and twists in unexpected ways. I feel as if I’m writing and reading a story at the same time and I’m not entirely sure how it will end.

As Stephen King says, it’s magic.

I’ve combined the love of storytelling with skills I’ve learned in corporate finance; a keen eye for detail and understanding of the importance of accuracy. Because of my background, focusing my first manuscript on historical fiction felt right.

When not writing, reading or telling stories, I am usually listening to music from a wide variety of styles. Rudy, our five year-old double-doodle dog, also keeps me active. My wife and I, and our two adult kids, try to spend as much time as we can at our cottage, on the Northumberland shore of Nova Scotia, from spring through autumn. I also continue to provide financial and strategic consulting services relating to large utility infrastructure projects, two days per week