Non-Fiction

When I pitched some of the stories from my Doctor of Ministry final project, Deep River Questions , to Broadview, they were more interested in the process through which the stories arose. I adapted that journey into a Lenten practice, and it became part of the cover story for the March-April, 2026 issue. “Lent with Intent: Six spirit-filled practices to deepen your journey to Easter: Writing as a Sacred Act," cover story, Broadview,  March/April, 2026 https://broadview.org/l

When my father was hospitalized at Christmas, our holiday plans became a journey of the soul. Spirit Story, Broadview, December, 2023 Image: Brett Sayles, pexels.com

Memoir, Broadview (online) November 7, 2022 https://broadview.org/canadian-military/ Image: Ellie Burgin, pexels.com

In 2021, I started in the Doctor of Ministry program in Creative Writing and Public Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. In Lori Jakiela's memoir class, I wrote a piece about my daily existence as a post-menopausal woman. “Fragments: An Incomplete Encyclopedia of a Post-Menopausal Life,” memoir, The Porch: A Slow Conversation about Beautiful & Difficult Things,  Nov. 2022 Image: Cottonbro Studio, pexels.com

As a ministry placement, I served as a volunteer at Chalmers Community Service Centre in Guelph. A friendship with a fellow volunteer led to this story. “Spirit Story: Friendship Comes with Open Arms,” personal essay, United Church Observer,  October, 2012 Image: Pixabay

In 2007, I walked part of the Camino de Santiago as a means of discernment toward ministry. I encountered a fellow pilgrim who completely illuminated my journey... “Quests: A pilgrim’s progress: Walking the Camino de Santiago was supposed to be a solitary journey. But the company of another traveller led to some surprising spiritual insights.” Personal essay, United Church Observer ,  May, 2010

During a ministry placement at Three Willows United, I was lucky enough to become friends with Jean Little and her sister, Pat de Vries. It was an honour to write part of their story.  “Author of Beloved Children’s Books, Jean Little, Conquers Hardships: One of Canada’s best-loved children’s authors is an active United Church member. Jean Little’s story is hardly a fairytale,” profile, United Church Observer , February, 2010 This story is still online, and you can read it her

What do you do when you find that your name is on your ten-year-old child's 'stupid list'? You write about it... “Cool or Stupid, Your Choice: There I was on my daughter’s ‘stupid’ list. It’s tough to work out a different kind of mothering when your home is like a bus station with a bank machine” “Facts and Arguments,” Globe and Mail,  October 2, 2006

I long time ago, a back injury challenged my identity. Fortunately, I gained some spiritual insights... “I Am a Busy Person or  The Appreciation of Sunbeams,” essay, Tapestry , CBC Radio, aired June 2003 A few years ago, on a Monday morning, I bent down to pick something up off my hall floor – a simple action, the kind we do fifty times a day – but when I tried to get up, I couldn’t. My back had given out. I hobbled off to the chiropractor and found myself sobbing all over hi

Somehow along the way, I got wind of a story about St. Francis and how he had created the first creche in a cave in the hills above the Italian town of Greccio. With a lot of research, this became "A Gift for Greccio," a children's story published in the United Church Observer in 2003. I've since adapted it into a Christmas Eve service. Image: St. Francis, Jason Youngman, pexels.com

With three young kids, I needed creative space. I cleaned out a storage room in our home and made a radio documentary in the process... “A Room of Her Own,” documentary, Outfront , CBC Radio, aired October 2000 Steve Johnson, pexels.com

A long time ago, when my kids were little, I left home for a few days to meet up with a friend in New York City. It resulted in this essay for the Globe and Mail : “Daylight Train to Gotham: A stay-at-home mother takes her first unaccompanied trip to the Big Apple,” “Facts and Arguments,” Globe and Mail , April 28, 2000