BIO

Backgrounder
Born in Scotland. Raised there and in Norway. I speak English, French and Norwegian and can get by in basic German and Spanish. After studying economic geography, history and theory, Scots law and commercial French in Glasgow, earned the Scottish National Diploma in Business Studies in 1967.

Career to date : Editorial Assistant in a film studio; Administrative Assistant with a TV company (both in Glasgow); Flight Attendant (London); Airline Reservations Agent (British Airways, Toronto). Became an International travel journalist in 1977, after studying at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto. Since 1998, I have also been a Tourism Industry Consultant and tourism text Webwriter/Editor and Translator. As well, I create story ideas, write scripts and record voice-overs for Tourism Videos.

My claim to fame
I’ve travelled to 170 destinations and my articles and photographs have appeared in well over 100 newspapers, guide books and magazines. They include leading publications like The Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, Glasgow Herald, Boston Globe, Toronto Star, Chicago Sun-Times and Woman’s World.

Travel Books
Contributor to Insight Guides Montreal and Quebec City (2007) and Pocket Guide Quebec 2006; Access Guide’s Montreal & Quebec City (HarperCollins); Fodor’s Canada (2004/3/2) and Great Canadian Vacations 2004 (Random House); New England (Eye Witness Travel Guides, 2001); Quick Escapes from Toronto (1999) and Editor, Guide to Eastern Canada 1998 (Globe Pequot Press).

Awards
Winner, EXPLORE Canada 1983-4 (photographic category); FRANCIS H. KORTRIGHT WRITING AWARD 1986 (magazine category); GRAND PRIX DU TOURISME – ESTRIE 1989 (journalisme touristique).

Professional affiliations
Former Canadian chapter chairman of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).