Answers to questions that I am frequently asked:

Where and when were you born? - I was born on September 13, 1952 in Northern Saskatchewan (on the Canadian prairie). I spent my youth growing up at College Mathieu, a private French school in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan. Our school was run by Oblate priests of Quebec. I am a French speaking Metis.

How many children do you have and what are their names? Adrien is 31, Etienne 27, Todd 26, Ashleigh 24 and Victoria is now 10.

Did you like school and were you a good student? - I was a good boy. I sang in the choir and performed in numerous extra-curricular singing related events. I played all sports. I was kind to everyone. And no, I did not particularity like school and because I had a learning disability, I had to work extra hard to succeed.

Did you always want to be a writer? - I never wanted to be a writer, in fact, I don't remember ever wanting to be a teacher either - which I was for 18 years before becoming a principal for eleven years! I didn' t start to read for pleasure until I was 27 and I didn't write until ten years later. Some things in life just happen to you while you are busy doing other things. Teaching and writing were two that caught me off guard...and two that turned out to be among the better things to happen to me.

When did you start to write? I wrote my first book when I was 37. I had been reading for ten years and felt that I had ideas that would interest others.

Which of your books is your favorite? When you read about the artist who illustrated If Sarah Will Take Me, you'll understand why I chose it. ...however, I love anything and everything that I've ever done with Yang and of course, Notes to My Daughter is wonderful! Oh, my new book Nokum is stunning and a great source of pride. Since discovering my aboriginal roots, most of my writing and work has been in that area. With the help of some amazing talent, I have created some amazing work that I hope will make a difference in the lives of aboriginal and non-aboriginals alike.

Where do you get your ideas? From my Nokums, my grandmothers. An Odawa Elder once asked me who my teacher was. I didn't know. I do now. My Nokums inspire and direct my writing and most of my personal life. I am grateful to have them in my life and equally as grateful to recognize the role they play. Nokum is the source of much of what I write, how I think and what happens to me. At times, she is exhausting!

Who is YOUR favorite author? Oscar Wilde is probably my favorite author. I love historical fiction so I have several favourites who write that genre of book, Sharon Kay Penman being the favourite of my favourites. (I LOVE Kate DiCamillo.)

What is your favorite book? I loved Harry Potter and wished they could go on forever. My favourite Christmas book ever, which is one of my all time favourites of any genre, is the Legend of Holly Claus.