Growing up between England and Canada, voices and accents were always shifting around me. I did my best to adapt, eventually feeling most comfortable with a hybrid Canadian-English tone.

Through many changes, books were my constant companions. An early reader, I turned to stories for solace, support and meaning. Both of my parents regularly read aloud to me and I quickly learned the power of emphasis, pace and inflection.

I studied English Literature at Queen’s University in Canada and Ben-Gurion University in Israel before teaching English abroad in both South Korea and China. The power of words - to connect, to bridge divides, to understand oneself as well as others - continues to astound me.

Being able to read aloud to others is one of my greatest joys.