The Globe and Mail
In the early 1990s, as I was trying to transition from my career in advertising to writing for publications, I was delighted when The Globe and Mail decided to publish an essay for their Facts and Arguments page that I wrote in August, 1991. Titled “Embracing the Prodigal Sun,” it was my meditation on the beauty of summer. I was so thrilled when I got the news I would be published in The Globe. I had never taken a journalism course: all self-taught. And I desperately wanted to be a writer. That same year, The Globe published another essay of mine: “Perils of the Post-Letter Society” was about the lost art of letter writing. Both essays are posted below. I was so proud, I had each piece mounted on a board! These published essays gave me a huge amount of confidence.
I went on from there to write for many magazines. And in 1998, at the dawn of the newspaper war with The National Post, The Globe and Mail invited me to write a regular column. They had seen my work in magazines and were looking for new voices. I went on to write regular columns, essays and features for The Globe and Mail for 21 years, some as a regular freelance contributor, and starting in 2007, on staff. I opted to take the voluntary buy out in 2019. I am forever grateful to The Globe and Mail for their support of me over the years. I learned a lot during that time – the best being a lack of fear about deadlines!!
Below are the links to two pieces from The Globe and Mail that aren’t behind the paywall.
This one, a feature, published in May 2019, is a meditation on motherhood and cancer.
And this one, posted by a third party, is a long feature profile of Leonard Cohen, written in 2007.
Globe and Mail Highlights
Generation Ex
Conceptualized and pitched the Generation Ex column, (2007-2010) which explored the sociological phenomenon of modern divorce. This weekly column made its debut when the Life section launched in 2007 and garnered national attention.
Interview Column
Wrote an award-winning weekly interview column that was a National Newspaper Award finalist in 2001.
Happiness
Conceptualized and pitched Happiness column, (2010-2012) about the positive psychology movement as it gained momentum in mainstream culture.
Roving Cultural Correspondent
Roving Cultural Correspondent, (2014 -2019) writing long features and regular columns with observations about culture and daily life. Among other topics, long features have included pieces on WW1 centenary, trans activism, gender identity and rape culture on post-secondary campuses.