welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog. You'll have to bear with me as I learn the ins and outs of blogging.

So who am I anyway and why am I blogging? I'm Lisa MacColl, I'm a freelance writer and editor, a work-from-home mom, a singer, a crafter, a baker and an animal lover. For the past 3 years, I've been a freelance writer and editor, and before that, I have been a Customs Officer, a supervisor of a call centre, a compliance and legislation analyst in the insurance industry. I was born in Montreal, and I've lived in Vancouver, Dollard des Ormeaux/Pointe Claire, Toronto and Kitchener. I've travelled everywhere in Canada except Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan and the far North. I haven't travelled anywhere else but Florida and New York City...one of these years.

I have written about animals, choosing wedding music, politics, stupid criminal activity, blowing bubbles with my daughter, helping your spouse through job loss and finding my first gray hair...down there. I've also written legislation analysis, corporate communications and I edit academic documents, performing arts materials and articles.

I believe that everyone has a right to be happy, peaceful, loved, accepted and inspired. I have always had an innate, strong sense of justice and fairness, but I'm not always that good at picking the mountains I die on...which is why I don't work in a corporate environment anymore. As my father used to tell me "I don't suffer fools lightly" and I wasn't the best at keeping my mouth shut.

I love to sing, and I am a soprano in the Grand Philharmonic Choir. I also love musical theatre, reading, crafts, baking, making cards, sewing and spending time with my friends and family. I've been married 10 years this year, and I am owned by 2 cats, Rocky, a brown tabby who is 17 and Max who was a black panther in another life before he found us. I have one daughter, whose nickname is "Vampira, Mistress of the Dark" because she never goes to bed, and she is a constant source of wonder and amusement for me. She teaches me about myself every day.

I love the Montreal Canadiens. I like all kinds of music, mystery novels, books that inspire my soul, poetry and children's books. One of these days I'm going to write my own book for children.

Professionally, I am a proud member of the Guelph Chapter of the Professional Writers' Association of Canada,(PWAC) the Editors' Association of Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists, the Cat Writers' Association, the Canadian Society of Childrens' Illustrators, Authors and Performers (CANSCAIP) and the Society of Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). I guess I'm quite the joiner for an introvert...

As my friends and my husband will confirm, I have strong opinions about things...and if you don't want the answer; don't ask me the question. I don't intentionally hurt people's feelings, though, and never understood people who do. I never did understand mean...

Please stop by from time to time and visit. This will be a work in progress as I figure out things.

Thanks for reading!
Divawrites

(why Divawrites, you ask? Because I've often been assumed to be a Diva when I join a choir until people get to know me, I love to sing, and I write...'nough said!)