ABOUT ME

About Me

Gwyneth at Stonehenge, England

Mother-Daughter team, in their "PJ Mouse onesies" for a book week author visit (2017)
Megan, (Illustrator) / Gwyneth, (author)

GENERAL

I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,
however I have called many countries home. I grew up in such places as Peru, the United States, England, the Caribbean, and Canada and now reside on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia, with my husband and four children.

EDUCATION

I hold an MBA from Simon Fraser University.

EXPERIENCE / SKILLS

My work experiences have been quite varied. After leaving university and getting married, in the early years when my kids were young, I ran my own successful baking business which enabled me to work from home and be with my children.

My husband and I have also fixed up and sold (flipped) houses for a living. In 2013 I became allergic - literally - to some building materials and started looking for something else to do. Like many people, I had thought about writing a book from time to time but didn't know where to start. After taking a few creative writing courses at college, I embarked on writing my first children's chapter book The Travel Adventures of PJ Mouse in Canada.

I am blessed with four very talented and wonderful children. My second eldest daughter, Megan, has illustrated all the 'PJ Mouse' books. (Which is a good thing, as I can't even draw stick people very well!) My youngest daughter, Emily, and I are presently working together on a picture book series for young readers.

AWARDS / RECOGNITION

My young adults novel, The World as We Know It was shortlisted for the 2018 CYA awards in Australia (Children's and Young Adult Writers and Illustrators conference) as well as receiving a "Highly Commended" notation.

INTERESTS

The thing I love best in the world is being a mom. After that.....

I also love kids in general, and being a children's author is a wonderful experience, from the creative process of writing, to the fun of visiting students in schools. A lot of hard work goes into making a book, but the joy of meeting and interacting with kids, parents, grandparents and teachers, is truly very rewarding. There is nothing quite like when someone tells you that your book is their favourite book.

Travel is also one of my favourite pastimes....seeing natural wonders, learning the history of places, meeting different people, and experiencing their cultures. Life is too short, there are so many things I would love to do and see.

Fitness - I enjoy running, hiking, and keeping active.

Business - I very much like the challenge of being entrepreneurial and finding a way to make things work.

Favourite colour - Blue

WHAT I LIKE TO READ

Growing up I enjoyed books such as:

Make Way for Ducklings
Winnie the Pooh
The Wombles
Noddy
Wind in the Willows
Ten Apples Up on Top
Mister Men
The Borrowers
Pollyana
Anne of Green Gables
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Little House on the Priarie
Nancy Drew Mysteries

As an adult I have an addiction to historical fiction, but read a variety of genre. Some of my favourite authors are:

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Edward Rutherfurd
Jane Austen
J.K. Rowling
Bill Bryson
Adrian Plass
Catherine Cookson