WHAT WAS :

Where were you born/ grow up and where are you living now?

Montreal

Who are what were some of your influences or inspirations growing up, that shaped who you are today ?,

My mom. My dad. 

When did you start writing and has your style changed over the years, particularly over this past year? What are your themes to writing?

I started writing when I was about 10. Fantasy adventure stories. I was into Conan and the such. I wrote about a film for a cultural weekly for 8 years, from 1995 to 2003. Writing about movies was a pretext of sorts for me to write. Was always interested in expressing how movies impacted me than merely describing and analyzing them. I wrote short stories occasionally after that. In February of 2021, I started writing about the pandemic and my feelings to deal with the turbulent feelings I was experiencing. 

WHAT IS :

Has writing always been your way to express yourself or are there other mediums.? 

I used to draw and paint a lot. 

What is your general process for writing?  ( quiet space, cursive, computer, small journals,  ) what is your method?

The first pieces I wrote this past February I wrote on my phone, often lying down. I later moved to writing on my computer. I am generally inhabited by I feeling and then sentences start to form in my mind. Then I write them down.

Where is your sanctuary these days ? A place of refuge? A place in which you feel more creative. And why? No particular place but I always write in my apartment. 

How has the pandemic changed you and in what way? Did it impact your work and way of life.  Did you have to pivot to adapt to the sudden change and how.? I separated from my wife of 20 years. Found myself living alone, which I had never done in my life! I work in news so work became very intense. Covering th pandemic has been brutal. Bad news everyday. But it also honed my sense of public service, of doing something important that people need. It has been very hard to plan to foresee the future. One of the reasons I left my relationship was because I wanted to take a step forward, to take a step toward the future in a context when there was just the unknown. 

Were you mostly isolated or saturated and how did this change who you as a person in how you related to yourself, others and this world.The isolation forced me to really go inside, to introspect. I have always been introspective, melancholic  but would distract myself with social interaction. 

What were some of the positive aspects you gained or the world from this pandemic in your observations and opinion. I learned that my sensitivity was my super power. 

WHAT IS POSSIBLE?

Now that it feels like there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel,  what do you feel about the future.  Do you feel we are heading straight back to where we came from. What would be your hope ?

The world has changed. Not sure it will ever be the same. 

As a lot of us had more time to read and contemplate over this past year, Who were some of the inspiring people or authors that influenced or made an impact on you. Or was there a word, or sentence that has resonated in your head.

Sincerity. Be real and people respond. 

We all had to find different ways to communicate and interact with others.

If you were to tell an upcoming author or writer to read a book, what would those be …? Books that changed you? Inspired you. 

Marguerite Duras. Always 

Writing and being an artist can be a very emotional and isolating life at times under normal circumstances.  Did you find it easier or a struggle to find your creative flow. Is there a general word, or motto you lived by to get you through those tough days.

Get it  out. If you keep it in it will eat you alive.