ABOUT ME

Hi, I'm Jaime. Since my name’s plastered across the top of my blog, I figure you probably already know that. I’m a book junkie and always have been. My childhood is a bit of a blur—mostly a good blur, though—but what I do remember is books, books, and more books. A particularly fond memory of mine is my mom reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women to me and my sister and having us take over during the sad part (you know the one I mean). I blame credit my parents for my current all-consuming book addiction. Reading was always an important part of our lives, and still is today.

As a lifelong reader, it seemed only natural that my reading habit would lead to writing—it just took an awfully long time for this progression to take place. Years of essays and the like later, I found myself inching closer and closer to writing something a little less dull and lot more creative. After eight years of college, several stints as a barista, a short-lived career as a teacher, and an even briefer turn as a Special Constable (Phew! Lots o' jobs.), I found myself good and ready to do something I loved. Turns out that was writing. I haven’t been at this long, but I feel as though I’ve found my passion, something at which (I think) I’m better than mediocre, and a dream of getting published that I hope to one day make a reality. If nothing else, I’ve learned a lot about the craft and found a way to amuse myself and stay out of trouble...mostly.

Another passion: All things Scottish. That's Loch Ness behind me. (May 2012)

And now for something completely different and only slightly ridiculous...

About Me: Less Serious Edition

• I was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, the sister city of  Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA. 
• For the last thirteen years, I've resided in Western Canada, mostly in Alberta but two of those years were in Saskatchewan as well. In all this time out West, I've never once returned to Ontario. Not sure why exactly.
• I lived in Germany for six months, picking up the language here and there. Ten years later I still remember a decent amount. It was great experiencing another culture, but as Dorothy put it, "There's no place like home". 
• Growing up in the province directly adjacent to Quebec, I had the privilege of taking French for twelve years in school. Though not quite bilingual, I can say a whole lot more than "Where's the bathroom?" (Où est la salle de bain?) and "I like cheese" (J'aime le fromage). And as a result, I love learning new languages. (See Point #3.)

• I own multiple copies of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. I confess, it's become a bit of a strange compulsion.*
• I spent more than eight years in post-secondary, earning an Accounting diploma and a Bachelor of Education with an English major and a Social Studies minor, neither of which I'm currently using or will likely use again. 
• I have moved fourteen times in my adult life for work, for school, and just for a change. I hate moving. A lot. 
• I have never read Romeo & Juliet all the way through despite my University English training (I took a whole course in just Shakespeare) and my (brief) experience as an English teacher. I should probably get on that.
• I love British TV movies and miniseries. Some of my favourites are Downton Abbey (I've managed to get many people hooked), nearly any Jane Austen rendition post-1995, and Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South.
• I passed both a 4-hour long polygraph test and a Psychological Evaluation in the hiring process for my ultra-brief career as a Special Constable with the police. Fact: I can prove I'm not a criminal, and I'm not cuckoo.

• As a child I electrocuted myself pulling a bobby pin out of an outlet. How did it get there, you ask? My younger brother thought it was a good idea to stick it there. What can I say? Obviously we're both geniuses.
• My brother and I used to play a sweet mash-up of He-Man, GI Joe, My Little Pony, and Barbie. I liked to come up with scenarios where a 3-inch high grunt would fall in love with a three-times-his-size Barbie. The two of them would ride off into the sunset to Castle Grayskull on a pony named Applejack. I ♥ Romance.☺
• I own a brown badge that says “Ask me about my explosive diarrhea”, which I have never had the courage (stupidity?) to wear.  I keep it because it makes me giggle. An awful lot. And it shows just how mature I am.

  
  

  

  Sirius-ly Weird. Bahaha! Get it? No?...Never mind.

  
  

* Think Mel Gibson's character's Catcher In the Rye obsession in Conspiracy Theory. It's almost like that. Almost.