Guelph, Ontario is a community with an embarrassment of riches, particularly when it comes to the arts, including the literary arts.

It is home to the iconic bookstore, The Bookshelf, a landmark on Quebec Street.

And just down the road is the Guelph Public Library, one of the oldest public libraries in Ontario, the most used recreational facility in Guelph, and a vital community hub.

Part of the library’s success is due to The Friends of the Guelph Public Library, an intrepid group of local volunteers.

I was delighted to be contacted by James Gordon, local singer-songwriter extraordinaire and fellow author, on behalf of the Friends of the Guelph Public Library, to be part of their inaugural panel discussion, Guelph Writes.

At the event, moderated by Jeremy Luke Hill, local publisher and the driving force behind the Vocamus Writers Community, I was privileged to share the stage with award-winning authors; Nicholas Ruddock, Kathy Stinson, and Barbara Kyle, all of whom also call this area home.

After we each read a piece from our published works, Luke started the panel discussion by asking how Guelph influenced our individual writing journeys.

My response was, “In three huge ways!”

First, the story for my memoir, Ready to Come About (Dundurn Press), essentially started in Guelph; our first sail as a family, the kids’ growing pains, the job firing. Many local settings played a part; the home where we raised our family, Sunny Acres Park, the Speed River, St. Stanislaus School (now John Bosco), the Wooly, the Stone Road Mall where my husband, David, had his fateful seizure, the Guelph General, the decision to take off.

Second, believing I had a story that deserved telling, but never having been a writer before, I set about acquiring the skills I needed to enable me to tell it to the best of my ability. That multi-year journey included participating in many local educational opportunities; a one-day class entitled Writing Personal Stories, by Brian Henry at Harcourt United Church, various courses in creative writing at the University of Guelph, and workshops in the art and craft of story-telling by experts, like Barbara Kyle, a member of the panel.

And, last but not least, as writing is an inherently solitary activity, it felt extra-important to me to meet like-minded people, others who could appreciate the joys and pains and highs and lows, others to lend a shoulder to cry on and with whom I could celebrate small victories. And, for me, Guelph provided that community.

So, thank you Guelph! It isn’t a stretch to say that, without you, my memoir would not have seen the light of day.

During the Q&A, I was asked if I was writing another book. I was thrilled to answer, “Yes! I’m on the final stretch of completing my first novel.”  Fingers crossed it will become a proud member of the ‘Books from Guelph Authors Club’ in the not-too-distant future.