After a lifetime on a farm in southern Ontario, Janet traded crops for creativity and began cultivating words instead of soil. Her journey from rural life to published author began with poetry, when her poem Follow the River won a contest at Creative Writing Institute. The Institute’s CEO, Deborah Owen, recognized her talent and invited Janet to serve as a volunteer columnist and editor.
Janet’s writing soon branched out. Southern Ontario Farmer published her farewell to the tobacco industry in 2007, and in 2015 her short story Cube-Clicks was selected for Wherever We Roam by Polar Expressions Publishing. Her middle-grade novel Backyard Rose earned an honorable mention at a local college. But she knew she wanted to go further—to write and publish a full-length novel.
When Janet joined a writers’ group, she met her future publisher at DarkWinter Press. Around that same time, she discovered a series of online courses that would prove transformative.
“Writing Academy courses blueprinted the template for my first published novel,” Janet explains. “I don’t even remember how many I took!”
Through the Writing Academy courses, Janet learned how to structure scenes, plan crises, and build climaxes with precision and confidence. The interactive environment—where writers from around the world exchanged encouragement and ideas—became her creative community.
Steve Alcorn, founder of Writing Academy, personally helped refine her novel’s opening scene.
“What if you start in a familiar setting?” he suggested.
That single piece of advice unlocked the story’s beginning. Within an hour, Janet’s characters came alive.
The result was Beyond Hover: Dimensional Weaves, her debut science-fiction novel published by DarkWinter Press.
Readers can find Beyond Hover: Dimensional Weaves on Amazon.
Now, Janet is turning her attention to a new challenge: a murder mystery set on the frozen river behind the historic Bell Homestead in Brantford, Ontario.
“I may just return to Steve’s mystery writing course for a refresher,” she says with a smile.
She’s already ordered a copy of Steve’s Mystery Writing: From First Clue to Final Twist—the perfect companion for her next literary adventure.
About Janet
Janet is a retired Ontario farmer turned author whose writing journey has taken her from agricultural publications to science fiction and mystery. Her work has appeared in Southern Ontario Farmer, Wherever We Roam, and various literary collections. Her debut novel, Beyond Hover: Dimensional Weaves, was published by DarkWinter Press. When she isn’t writing, Janet enjoys life in southern Ontario and continues to explore new creative horizons through Writing Academy.