Leanne Dyck's bio
I use my popular (1.6 million page views) blog—author Leanne Dyck’s blog—to showcase my writing and promote reading. I’ve enjoyed working with editors since 2005. I’ve been published in newspapers, magazines, literary journals, anthologies, and by an online book publisher—including Island Writer magazine, Canadian Stories, and Icelandic Connection. I’ve also self-published a collection of books—fiction, non-fiction, paperbacks, ebooks, and audiobooks. I studied children's literature at the University of Winnipeg, was the sole proprietor of a children's literature bookseller business, and read scores of picture books to groups of children during my fourteen-year career in Early Childhood Education.
My knitwear design career spanned the years from 2002 to 2010. Knitters from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and Israel purchased my hand-knitting patterns. My knitting patterns have been published in the Canadian craft magazines A Needle Pulling Thread (2008) and Knit Together (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008). I self-published a knitting-themed collection of short stories audiobook (2006) and a learn-to-knit/pattern book (2007).
For a list of published work, please visit this blog's Publishing History page.
Please follow me on
Twitter "X" (lustfulgraces)
Facebook
Linked In
Interviews
Interviewed by Bill Maylone for the MayneLiner Magazine
A collection of interviews
Article by Laurie Kay for the The Islands Independent
Short Story: Take Note (2014)
Twitter "X" (lustfulgraces)
Linked In
Interviews
Interviewed by Bill Maylone for the MayneLiner Magazine
A collection of interviews
Article by Laurie Kay for the The Islands Independent
Author readings on YouTube
Book: Maynely A Mystery (2009)
Book: The Sweater Curse (2011)
Book: The Sweater Curse 'Afterwalkers' (2011)
Short Story: An Ancient Tune (2014)
This is my Story
A
childhood neighbour shared her earliest memory of me, "You were
tiny--maybe four or five--telling stories to a captivated audience of
puppies and kittens."
I entertained my parents with puppet shows. I cut characters out of the Eaton's and Sears catalogues and created elaborate stories. And I cherished my extensive picture book collection.
Then I started school...
Looking over at the trail of red Xs our teacher had left on my paper, a classmate said, "You should have my mom. She'd help you."
What he didn't know was that my mom was attempting to move mountains to help me. To prepare me for school, Mom and I had many sessions at the kitchen table.
"What colour is this?" or "What letter is this?"
Her encouragement and patience were endless. Finally, I'd supply the correct answer and we would celebrate.
The next day, she'd test me but to no avail.
"I began to suspect that it had leaked out of your ear and soaked into your pillow," Mom told me later.
Mrs. Blue (I believe she taught me grade one) wrote a comment on my report card, 'Leanne tries very hard but...' and advised my parents to have me tested at the children's hospital in Winnipeg.
My parents left the hospital with a pamphlet, a new word--dyslexia--and advice to increase my self-esteem and my love of books.
When I failed to complete grade two, my principal pronounced me ineducable. My parents, however, continued to believe in the soundness of my intellect and found teachers--first Mrs. Bent and then Mrs. McIntosh--to help me learn.
In elementary school, a poem I penned was published in the school newsletter. One of my short stories was published in the community newspaper.
I successfully completed elementary school and entered junior high (middle school) without any remedial assistance. My parents suggested a tutor--an offer I refused.
My parents were avid readers and literary discussions were often held at our supper table. They encouraged me to read anything that interested me and always had money for new books.
My language arts teacher--Mrs. Danielson--introduced me to books by John Steinbeck, Margaret Laurence, and Alice Munroe. I was inspired to mimic their author's voice.
In high school, I had to choose between two streams of study--business education (courses that would prepare me for office work) and university entrance (courses that would prepare me for higher learning--college or university).
My principal, the same one I had in elementary school (a small school), told my parents, "Encourage Leanne to choose university entrance."
I chose business education and graduated with an award in Language Arts.
My grandma, my parents, my teacher, everyone encouraged me to become an author.
My reasoning was something along the lines of...Writers are academics. I'm too stupid to be an academic. I can't be a writer.
So, instead, I attended an eighteen-month program offered through the University of Winnipeg and graduated with Child Care Worker III certification (the highest level of certification). One of my most favourite classes was Children's Literature.
I spent fourteen fulfilling years caring for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in daycare centres. I used my creativity to entertain and enrich the environment. I read scores of picture books.
Fourteen years later, I began to think about my future beyond my career in childcare and while continuing to work, I took university courses by correspondence and became an independent consultant for P.I.G. (Parents Involved in Growth) Tales--a bookselling business. As a consultant, I selected books, found sale venues, and made presentations.
In 1998, my mom died and grief left me unable to continue to work in the social services. I couldn't give to others what I didn't have for myself. I needed a place to heal.
In 1999, my husband and I moved to Mayne Island. On my island home, my imagination soared. And I wrote...
While at a house party, I expressed an interest in sharpening my writing skills.
"Leanne, you should form a writer's group," a friend advised.
My writing group met at the library and I received invaluable feedback--and tried my best to return in kind.
Bill Richardson, a broadcaster and author, asked his CBC radio audience, "Why did you marry?"
I sent him a short story in reply and he read it on air.
I read one of my short stories on Salt Spring Island radio.
The Victoria Writer's Society published one of my short stories in their literary journal and I read it at their issue launch.
With my husband's help, I self-published an audiobook collection of short stories and a mystery novel.
And I was published in... Please visit my Publishing History page
In 2010, when an epub released my thriller, I felt vindicated and re-committed to build my author career. And, today, I continue to write, have a binder of rejection letters and am actively networking with others in the publishing industry.
Then I started school...
Looking over at the trail of red Xs our teacher had left on my paper, a classmate said, "You should have my mom. She'd help you."
What he didn't know was that my mom was attempting to move mountains to help me. To prepare me for school, Mom and I had many sessions at the kitchen table.
"What colour is this?" or "What letter is this?"
Her encouragement and patience were endless. Finally, I'd supply the correct answer and we would celebrate.
The next day, she'd test me but to no avail.
"I began to suspect that it had leaked out of your ear and soaked into your pillow," Mom told me later.
Mrs. Blue (I believe she taught me grade one) wrote a comment on my report card, 'Leanne tries very hard but...' and advised my parents to have me tested at the children's hospital in Winnipeg.
My parents left the hospital with a pamphlet, a new word--dyslexia--and advice to increase my self-esteem and my love of books.
When I failed to complete grade two, my principal pronounced me ineducable. My parents, however, continued to believe in the soundness of my intellect and found teachers--first Mrs. Bent and then Mrs. McIntosh--to help me learn.
In elementary school, a poem I penned was published in the school newsletter. One of my short stories was published in the community newspaper.
I successfully completed elementary school and entered junior high (middle school) without any remedial assistance. My parents suggested a tutor--an offer I refused.
My parents were avid readers and literary discussions were often held at our supper table. They encouraged me to read anything that interested me and always had money for new books.
My language arts teacher--Mrs. Danielson--introduced me to books by John Steinbeck, Margaret Laurence, and Alice Munroe. I was inspired to mimic their author's voice.
In high school, I had to choose between two streams of study--business education (courses that would prepare me for office work) and university entrance (courses that would prepare me for higher learning--college or university).
My principal, the same one I had in elementary school (a small school), told my parents, "Encourage Leanne to choose university entrance."
I chose business education and graduated with an award in Language Arts.
My grandma, my parents, my teacher, everyone encouraged me to become an author.
My reasoning was something along the lines of...Writers are academics. I'm too stupid to be an academic. I can't be a writer.
So, instead, I attended an eighteen-month program offered through the University of Winnipeg and graduated with Child Care Worker III certification (the highest level of certification). One of my most favourite classes was Children's Literature.
I spent fourteen fulfilling years caring for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers in daycare centres. I used my creativity to entertain and enrich the environment. I read scores of picture books.
Fourteen years later, I began to think about my future beyond my career in childcare and while continuing to work, I took university courses by correspondence and became an independent consultant for P.I.G. (Parents Involved in Growth) Tales--a bookselling business. As a consultant, I selected books, found sale venues, and made presentations.
In 1998, my mom died and grief left me unable to continue to work in the social services. I couldn't give to others what I didn't have for myself. I needed a place to heal.
In 1999, my husband and I moved to Mayne Island. On my island home, my imagination soared. And I wrote...
While at a house party, I expressed an interest in sharpening my writing skills.
"Leanne, you should form a writer's group," a friend advised.
My writing group met at the library and I received invaluable feedback--and tried my best to return in kind.
Bill Richardson, a broadcaster and author, asked his CBC radio audience, "Why did you marry?"
I sent him a short story in reply and he read it on air.
I read one of my short stories on Salt Spring Island radio.
The Victoria Writer's Society published one of my short stories in their literary journal and I read it at their issue launch.
With my husband's help, I self-published an audiobook collection of short stories and a mystery novel.
And I was published in... Please visit my Publishing History page
In 2010, when an epub released my thriller, I felt vindicated and re-committed to build my author career. And, today, I continue to write, have a binder of rejection letters and am actively networking with others in the publishing industry.
Contact me by email: leanne@leannedyck.com
Marketing: what I've done
