About

I cultivate words, helping you tell your story or create your message.

Freelance writer, editor — journalism, magazine, creative and corporate writing, workshop leader, author, photographer.

I have an extensive background in news and feature writing, news releases and advertorials — all about agriculture.

Currently, I’m the editor of FCC Knowledge Newsletter and FCC Food and Beverage Newsletter, publications of Farm Credit Canada. They are focused on the farm and food processing sectors, offering business knowledge stories from across the country.

I’m a partner in Cultivating Communications, a communications business operated with Trudy Kelly Forsythe. We help you tell your stories, manage social media accounts, hold media training sessions and do event coverage. If you need words, call us.

 Cultivating Words, Sowing Ideas

I’ve been a freelance writer in Atlantic Canada for over 25 years. Starting out as a daily newspaper reporter in rural New Brunswick, I became increasingly aware of the challenges facing today’s agriculture industry as I delved into farm-related issues. I now focus primarily on agriculture writing.

I’ve worked on multiple projects recognized by the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation writing, publication and broadcast competition over several years.

Other past gigs include former editor, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s internal newsletter, featuring articles from staff across the country and a feature story, and former associate editor of FCC’s AgriSuccess magazine, which focused on farm management. I am also the 2005 and 2006 winner, along with Kevin Hursh of Hursh Consulting and Communications, of the bronze Henry Heald Award for World Wide Web Site, awarded by the Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation.

Whichever hat I’m wearing, I also want to help you tell your story. Sometimes my primary concern is telling your story to promote your business and your point of view, or teaching you how to tell your story yourself. Sometimes, my journalist’s toque is firmly in place and I’m digging for the news.

Here’s a sample of words I can weave together for you:

– newsletters, electronic or mail-outs- blogger for hire

– brochures

– business letters

– media releases

– conference summaries

– writer mentorship

My first book, East Coast Murders was released in July, 2005. It’s available at Chapters-Indigo, amazon.ca or order through me and I will be happy to mail it to you.

Professional Organizations

Canadian Farm Writers Federation is an amazing organization of agricultural communicators, including journalists, editors, broadcasters, and business and government communicators. I am the past president of CFWF. Within CFWF are provincial organizations and I was instrumental in the formation of the Atlantic Canada Farm Writers’ Association. I was the group’s first president, but have handed the reigns over to new leadership.

As part of a regional and national farm writers’ organization, I am also a member of the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists, giving me a worldwide network of farm writers and communicators. I currently sit as Canada’s representative on the IFAJ executive.

Other publication credits

My byline has appeared in regional, national and international agricultural publications such as:

•Atlantic Construction Guide

•Atlantic Transportation Journal

•Canadian Cattlemen

•Canadian Potato Business

•Canadian Poultry

•Canola Guide

•Carleton-Victoria Advertiser

•Country Guide

•Daily Gleaner

•Farmers’ Independent Weekly

•Farm Focus of Atlantic Canada

•Fruit and Vegetable Magazine

•Maritime Provinces Water and Wastewater Report

•Milk Producer

•New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal

•Nova Scotia Business Journal

•Times-Transcript