I grew up on a large grain farm outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. For me, childhood had three seasons: farming, sports, and camping.
After I finished high school and university, I left Canada and worked in Asia for eight years. It turned to be a build-your-own-family adventure. I met my husband in Bahrain, and we had twins in Thailand. We now live in Calgary, Alberta—near the Rocky Mountains.
I’ve been teaching for more than 25 years.
One of the main reasons I write books for children as well as creative nonfiction, poetry, and humour for adults is because they all require paying attention to the world and leaving space—for the illustrator, the line, the reader, the laugh.
21 Random Facts About Me
- I write creative nonfiction, poetry, and humour essays for adults—and fiction for children.
- I took organ lessons for five years.
- I’m tall; I used to play a lot of basketball.
- Even though my husband and I were both born in Winnipeg, we met each other in Bahrain, a tiny island in the Persian Gulf.
- Our twins were born in Bangkok, Thailand; they’re now adults!
- My favourite seasons are spring and fall: I prefer -10C to +30C.
- I love tea but dislike coffee.
- I used to love dressing up (see the above photo of my impersonation of Carol Burnett).
- My day job is AP English Literature Teacher.
- I can sneeze like Donald Duck. Don’t ask…
- I have a ridiculous memory for numbers, but can sometimes be found trying to put the toaster in the fridge.
- I once won a caber toss championship.
- Until I was 3 years old, I lived in a house without plumbing.
- When I was a teen, I wrote hundreds of letters to my cousins and penpals, but I wrote stories only when assigned.
- Growing up, I always had a pet dog. I have fond memories and stories of Caesar, Bear, Rebel, and Roxy.
- I broke my collarbone three times before the age of 15.
- At university, I scored 56% on my first English essay. I was an English major.
- I have Celiac Disease, as do my kids; our house is gluten-free.
- My brother and uncle have published books involving weeds in wild oats and heat-flow meter methodology. I come from science people.
- I wrote a humour blog called Ironic Mom for five years. I have a Substack called Chasing Wonder.
- I love reading, stationery, collecting weird words, weightlifting, and witty banter.
Semi-Official Bio
Leanne Shirtliffe loves to write in many genres. She’s an essayist, a poet, and the author of the middle-grade novel, THE GENIUS HOUR PROJECT. She’s also written several picture books (including SLOTH TO THE RESCUE, I LOVE SHARKS, TOO!, and THE CHANGE YOUR NAME STORE), and the memoir, DON’T LICK THE MINIVAN.
She’s a trained Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Facilitator and runs writing workshops. She once blogged as Ironic Mom, but now runs the Chasing Wonder newsletter, an occasional dispatch that’s a mix of off-kilter observations, overheard haiku, and tiny invitations to chase wonder in overlooked places.
When she’s not jotting down bizarre things in her notebook, she can be found teaching high school or laughing alongside her husband and children. Leanne has lived around the world, including Manitoba, Ontario, Bahrain, and Thailand. She now makes her home in Calgary. You can find out more about her at LeanneShirtliffe.com.
Downloads
Author Photos:
• serious ()
• playful ()
Some Book Covers:
• The Change Your Name Store ()
• Don’t Lick The Minivan ()
• Mommyfesto ()
• No More Beige Food ()
• Saving Thunder the Great ()
• I Love Sharks, Too! ()
• Sloth to the Rescue ()
