It’s a Blast

I loved working on a feature story about supervolcanoes for OWL, Canada’s science magazine for kids. Even grown-ups can appreciate the colossal magnitude of these natural formations and their land-altering eruptions! “What a Blast” appears in the September issue of OWL.

Eat, Drink and Be Marigold

It may still be August, but the September edition of Zoomer magazine is hot off the press. This issue includes a special multi-page report on strategies that can enhance your “health span.” Look for my stories detailing special breakthroughs in heart medicine for women, the pros and cons of non-dairy milks, and why flowers aren’t just good-looking, but good-tasting – and may protect against disease. Now excuse me while I go munch a few marigolds…

August Update

So far, it’s been a busy summer packed with work… and play. I spent part of July on vacation, including a memorable trip to several regions in France. Vraiment magnifique! Now that I’m back, I have a lively variety of magazine articles on the go, as well as writing projects for corporate clients, so I’m at my desk full days. There may be a heat wave out there, but there’s air-conditioning – not to mention coffee – in here. All is right in the world.

Blood Donation for the Nation

This month saw the release of my first story in the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, the publication for the Canadian Society of – you guessed it – Medical Laboratory Science. My feature article, “Blood on the Move,” explores our healthcare system’s decision-making process when Canada’s donor blood supply gets critically low. It was fascinating (and reassuring!) to take a peek behind the scenes.

Live Well, Eat Well

Optimism could be the theme of my two articles in the new June issue of Zoomer magazine. In this issue, I share hopeful breakthroughs about earlier cancer detection in “6 New Ways to Find Cancer Sooner” (page 53). Then I list six approaches that can increase your dining pleasure while you adhere to your pesky dietary restrictions (“Vive La Différence!”). Whether you’re on a low-sodium diet, you struggle with irritable bowel syndrome or you’ve been newly diagnosed with lactose intolerance, you’ll find helpful tips here, starting on page 56.

Learning Lessons

One of the many rewards of freelance writing is an opportunity to educate the next generation. My quiz in the May 2016 issue of OWL magazine, “Finding Inspiration,” focuses on biomimicry – clever inventions that copy nature. Examples include an invisibility patch for soldiers, inspired by the camouflaging abilities of the jumbo squid, and a self-cooling high-rise building, inspired by termite mounds! I’ve also contributed to a new Scholastic Canada book about consumerism that’s aimed at students. My piece discusses the lives of child garment workers. The book, called The Best Buy, is part of a Scholastic Canada series on social justice issues.

Mental Health at Work

As I write in my opening paragraph: “One in five Canadians will experience mental illness at some point, and chances are good they’ll be on the job when they do.” If you have a mental health condition, how do you tell your boss about it? And should you? For insights from experts, check out my article “Should I Tell My Boss about My Mental Illness?” on the Canadian Living website.