Kim Firmston has never won a Governor General’s literary award, nor has she met Margaret Atwood. (Though she hears mentioning Margaret Atwood as many times as possible is a good way to break into the publishing industry). She was however short listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Awards with her short story Life Before War (which is now published in the 2009 Fall edition of FreeFall magazine) as well as written a few plays. The Block, Wex, The Rock n’ Roll Trolls and Polar Power Quest were all performed in and around the Calgary area. Her short story, Returning Home, appeared in the Alexandra Reader Anthology (2006) and she has published three articles in the Alexandra Musings newsletter put out by the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society where she was treasurer from 2006 -2008. She even, briefly, had an agent, who unfortunately retired to become an advisor before successfully selling her novel.

Currently she is shopping quite a few novels to various publishers - see my Writing if you want to check them out.

However, writing only one of many talents. Kim can turn many kitchen ingredients into explosive science experiments, remain intact in most mosh pits and turn any conversation on its head. Writing, teaching children, reading comics, watching animation, learning Japanese and listening to music at obscene volumes are some of her main obsessions. She has introduced numerous children to writing including her seven-year-old daughter, Emily, who won a high commendation in the 2006 Speakeasy Young Writers competition in England.

Although Kim Firmston has lived in more places than she can remember, she now resides in Calgary with her daughter Emily, niece Diva and husband Bill - lead singer of the now defunct bands the Choads, Arctic Power and the Legendary Few. She met him while researching Boiled Cat. No cats were harmed in the making of the novel. Kim promises.

Kim Firmston is a member of the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. You can find both in the Links section.

Want to know more? Check out my Blog and my Writing.