Liz is one nosy author, which is why she loves writing non-fiction. SheÕs very curious about why people do what they do, and likes sharing with kids the amazing facts and secrets that she uncovers.
As a kid in Thornhill, Ontario, the idea of being a writer never crossed LizÕs mindÑshe figured most authors were already dead and they definitely werenÕt Canadian. Besides, it was science that interested Liz.
But writing was already part of LizÕs life. After dinner on school nights, Liz and her two brothers would trudge up to their rooms, close their doors and start to do their homeworkÑor so their parents thought. A few minutes later, a piece of paper would come sliding under LizÕs door. One of her brothers had drawn a picture, usually of some weird creature.
Liz really couldnÕt draw (still canÕt!), so the only way she could respond was to write a short story, often about a mad scientist or space alien. She would slip the story under her brotherÕs door andÑwell, not a lot of homework got done.
At university, Liz studied sciencesÑthere was hardly any writing involved at all. But after university, she was hired as an editor at OWL magazine, where she could combine writing and her love of science. But it wasnÕt long before Liz had a goal: to write a book. Her first one was about lions and since then sheÕs written more than fifty others.
Royal Murder: The Deadly Intrigue of Ten Sovereigns (2008) is one of her favourite books because royalty has always fascinated Liz. She loved going behind the scenes with monarchs from Cleopatra to Dracula to find out just what they would do to hold onto power or protect their families.
Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve HistoryÕs Mysteries (2013) was the winner of numerous awards, including the Crime Writers of Canada 2014 Arthur Ellis Award in the Juvenile/YA category.
LizÕs latest book with Annick Press, Galloping Through History: Incredible True Horse Stories (Spring 2015), combines, once again, her outstanding storytelling skills with her passion for history. This time her love of animals also shines through as she recounts the stories of six horses that changed the way humans live, travel, fight, work, and play.
Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their cat Cosimo. While she writes, he is usually sprawled across her deskÑoften right on the book she needs for research!
