I was born on a dairy farm in Friesland, a northern province in the Netherlands. I loved horse back riding and dressing up in a traditional Frisian costume. When I grew up I became a kindergarten teacher.

In 1981, I moved with husband, Albert, and our three children to Canada. We settled in North Bay, Ontario.

The English language was new to me. To learn this new language I went to university to obtain my B.A. and B.Ed. In 1987 I became a kindergarten teacher for the second time. I started writing in the English language and with the encouragement of my writing friends at the North Bay Writers' Club, I started submitting stories to publishers.

After many years and many rejection letters, my first novel, 'A Time to Choose' was accepted by Orca Book Publishers, and launched in the fall of 1995. It was a dream come true and the beginning of a wonderful rewarding writing career.

My novels have taken me to schools in Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Meeting so many students who had read my stories and wanted to discuss them with me has been awesome.

I was born after W.W.II, but the war did effect my childhood. My family had suffered great tragedy during the war. The facts, anecdotes and stories, that survivors of the war shared with me, encouraged me to write 'A Time to Choose', Daughter of Light', 'When the War is Over' and 'Hero'. Reading old folk tales and legends from Friesland, inspired me to write 'A Light in the Dunes', and 'The paper Wagon'. Albert and I are very concerned about the future of our planet. We are continuously trying to reduce our carbon footprint to inspire others and to create a better future for our five beautiful grandchildren and for future generations. My current writing projects deal with these concerns and with ways to live more sustainable.