While her website alludes, Michelle Robinson‘s start began in the UK but, like many good stories, her setting changed and now we can officially celebrate her as a Canadian author. There’s no particular reason I’m starting with her in this new segment, I just am.
I discovered Michelle quite by accident as I heard of this new prolific children’s book author moving to a community close by, though there are many passionate creatives on the north shore of Nova Scotia. What made her first stand out to me was seeing her book, The Day The Banana Went Bad, at Ashton’s Garden Centre Tatamagouche on a beautiful adventure with a friend. As most of you know, my author journey officially began with Sending You Sammy and the BananaBoy (a good banana), so of course this caught my eye.
This was in 2021 when I immediately followed her Facebook page and connected with her virtually. I met her briefly at Read by the Sea where I called her by the wrong name (I’m still apologizing) and vowed to keep in touch and meet more often.
Why am I sharing all of this? Fast forward to October 2024 when she oh so subtly messaged me a link about a self-directed residency option at Jampolis Cottage with the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. When she clarified she wanted me to join her I quickly said yes! Which, admittedly, is odd for me as I typically refrain from treating myself, from going somewhere without my family and to carving out time for me. This would be a week long getaway devoted to writing and about two hours away which meant missing out on sports, family appointments and more. I was equally thrilled and nervous when our application was approved and the plan started to be real. In the back of my mind a small part of me hoped something would prevent me from going while most of me was so eager to face my fear and get back to my writing.
Now about Michelle (not Melanie). She is a children’s book writer with over sixty, yes 60!, books published and truly lives off her ideas and passion for literature. Her journey is so impressive and her ability to spend her days with goals, a plan and a zest for hard work is simply admirable. She is persistent, which is key to a long-lasting career in the literary world, yet so humble and gracious, praising her illustrators, agents and all those who have helped her along the way as often as she can.
Looking up to Michelle, I see her as confident, creative and charismatic while she brushes all of that aside to admit to simply feeling blessed that she can continue to do what she loves and, in many ways, be her own boss. For this and many other reasons, I thoroughly enjoyed being her roommate on our writing retreat and mentioned it would be lovely to do it again.
She is an author who deserves to be celebrated constantly.
Thank you for reading and celebrating Michelle Robinson with me today!
Sarah Butland