That’s me, on my mother's lap. It’s hard to say which was more important, the book or her lap. If you get both, the world can be a wonderful place.

My first book, Terror at Turtle Mountain grew out of an oral tale, told by someone who had survived a disaster. I thought it was a very exciting story, but one student said, “Canadian history is boring.” Boring?

I was determined to prove otherwise.

A portrait of the author, by Clinton, aged 6

I grew up in Toronto, going on to study literature at Trinity College, University of Toronto. After attending the Toronto School of Storytelling, I began to tell stories orally, working for many years as a professional storyteller. I've shared tales at schools, libraries, conferences, festivals, on radio and television, even in an Arabian harem and from inside a bear’s belly. But that’s another story.

My home is currently in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Living on an island means a lot of time on or near the sea, which is exactly where I want to be.

I am a member of the following organizations that promote books and writing here in Canada and abroad:

And for more information on storytelling and the oral tradition in Canada, Storytellers of Canada/Conteurs du Canada is a useful resource.