“Becoming a writer was always a lofty goal, and as a means to achieve that, I became a nurse. For most of my career I specialized in occupational health, then in the field of mental health. Those last years were the hardest, especially during the pandemic, but by far my most rewarding. The Park Street Secrets is dedicated to the people whom I have had the honour of caring for. They defined adversity and gratitude in such unique and distinct ways. While none are represented in my novels, they planted the seeds for some characters, usually long after they were gone.

Being an author forces me to capture the ideas swirling in my head and write them down, regardless of where I am and what I’m doing. As an example, I walked many times along the misty Niagara Falls in the picture you see above and made notes about Marcello, a key character in The Park Street Secrets. He faced a significant decision here, but you’ll have to read the story to find out more.

Gracie Sheehan is the lead character in my first novel, The Road to Alright, and you can follow her into The Park Street Secrets. Although each novel stands alone in its narrative, you may find it more interesting to read The Road to Alright first. 

I work hard to portray my characters as real people, full of faults and feelings. They get into trouble, often involving others, then try to make amends. Most of them move on, but few rarely stay the same.