II was born in Smith Falls Ontario. When I actually had to work for a living it was for Northern Telecom and Nortel for 30 years, retiring in 2002. I am a Native Algonquin person, belong to the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. My early years were spent in Wilton an Odessa Ontario and have lived for 32 years in Glenburnie Ontario and since 2019 we have lived in Napanee, Ontario. In June 1982 I obtained my Black Belt in Judo and the when I retired from fighting I obtained my Provincial A refereeing certification . In the 70's an early 80's I coached softball, winning two Intermediate and one Junior A Ontario Championships. I also coached at 3 Canadian Championships. I am in the Loyalist Township Sports Hall of Fame. Hiking is a pastime I enjoy and I have hiked the complete Rideau, Cataraqui Trails and the K&P Trail. Currently I work 2 days a week for Foster Grant International and speak at schools about my books a several times a month. I am available for school visits anywhere. Getting published at age 60 is what I call "Sugar at the End of My Life."
I travel with a Native Tickle Trunk and a Native Tickle Bag. When I bring everything with my articles take up 7 - six foot tables. I have raw furs, fur coats and wraps, plus weapons and artifacts that mirror the 1300s'. My first four novels take place during the 1300s' pre-contact. It follows a family of Omàmiwinini ( Algonquin) people over the course of 50 years as they try to survive warfare, starvation and the elements. I use the Native languages in the vernacular and all the places that I talk about you can actually visit. The books are historical fiction, but the culture is all based on the actual way the people lived during that time. The series is called The Algonquin Quest Series. The four novels are I Am Algonquin, Algonquin Spring, Algonquin Sunset and Algonquin Legacy. If you read the whole series you will have travelled from Newfoundland to the Dakotas and the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and all the lands in between. That series is used in Native Studies classes in schools across Canada. My fifth novel The Elk Whistle Warrior Society is about a secret society of Native women who hunt down human traffickers, murders and abusers of Native women and children and serve their justice on them.
For older grade school classes I also talk about how to write, character development, the importance of research, editing and getting published.
I tell stories about my artifacts and furs. Read from my books. Let the audience handle most of the artifacts and furs.
I also talk about writing and what it takes to write a book and get published.
I have enough Native articles to cover 7 X 6 foot tables and I use all these items to tell stories about live in the 1300s..
Please refer to the above descriptions of previously mentioned presentations.
