A revived segment of my blog is The Author Takeover, where an invited guest is asked to contribute a blog to my site. This allows my readers to connect with more authors and celebrate the world of literary in a different way. Today, welcome Canadian author Ivanka Fear as she talks about her love of Scholastic book fairs, Hardy Boys and Agatha Christie books and, of course, her own books. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for a special monthly question and answer with her, too!
With my fifth book, Cold Query, just released, and well over a hundred short stories and poems published in literary magazines, I’m thankful to those who set me on this writing path.
Although becoming a published author was my childhood dream, it took me a lifetime to get there. I didn’t achieve my goal until after retiring from teaching. With English being my second language, my parents encouraged me to learn to read in both my native tongue of Slovenian and in English. As a child, I loved books and getting lost in imaginary worlds. At school, I looked forward to ordering books from the Scholastic flyer. The library was my favourite hangout, and I envisioned myself reading through the shelves alphabetically. I read a wide variety of genres, but especially enjoyed anything mysterious—mystery, gothic, and romantic suspense. Other than the usual Hardy Boys and Agatha Christie books, favourite authors I recall are Phyllis A. Whitney and Victoria Holt. I imagined that one day I would write my own novel, and even went so far as to start one.
Poetry was another love of mine from an early age. Teachers fed my love of reading and writing. My Grade nine English teacher was instrumental in getting me to write by having a weekly creative journal entry that could be anything. For me, that was poetry. He saw a talent in me and encouraged me to pursue my wish to become a published writer some day. I recall my excitement when he put me in touch with Canadian writer, John Robert Colombo, who answered my letter to him.
In university, my professors of English and French literature broadened my love of reading with the classics, and I enjoyed writing essays about them. Among my favourite works were Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, and the poetry of T.S. Eliot. Although my original plan was to go into journalism, I earned my highschool English/French teaching degree, then spent over 30 years as an elementary teacher. I loved teaching kids to read and write. Writing for me became more of a professional activity, but my personal reading tastes continued to be in the mystery/thriller genre.
Fast forward to post-retirement. In the summer of 2018, I returned to my roots, writing a poem for the love of it. That led to more poems, then short stories, written for myself as a hobby. It was my husband who insisted they were good enough to be published. Thanks to him, and to Spadina Literary Review and Montreal Writes (for my first publications), my childhood dreams were realized.
Three years and six novels later, I signed a contract with my literary agent, and received a five-book offer of publication, followed by another three-book contract, and then an additional three-book contract from Level Best Books. In less than seven years—ninety poems, thirty-four stories, five novels published. And many more to come.
It’s never too late. Don’t give up on your dreams.
Visit her website
Please be sure to sign up for my newsletter for the special Q&A with Phyllis Entis!
Thank you, Ivanka Fear, and thank YOU reader, for joining us today. If you’re an author who wants to be featured, please reach out and we’ll schedule your Author Takeover soon!
Happy reading!
Sarah Butland