When I was six, with my Doctor’s approval, my family let me attend summer camp. I wanted to go to a camp like my friend, but instead I was sent to a special camp. This was the year of my life when I realised that I was different. I couldn’t understand why children who had arthritis and children who didn’t couldn’t attend camp together. Don’t get me wrong, my special camp was amazing and a lot of fun. Some highlights were going fishing on a wheelchair/walking aid accessible boat that my camp mates and I could easily board and sleeping in a tent. I never attended another camp but craved one my friend without a disability and I could attend together.

Last year, in response to some requests and for the young girl I used to be, I introduced a summer camp called Camp Mission Access. The camp’s mandate is inclusive activities for everyone. Ice Rose explores my love for secret agents and their world and also sparked the idea for a secret agent themed day camp. I found some amazing friends to help start this journey. Teachers gave me advice on what should be included to provide children an opportunity to flourish. Choreographers created activities that leaped over the boundaries associated with any kind of disabilities and made each activity inclusive. All came together to bring the adventure and characters of Ice Rose to life, and the young girl who wanted so desperately to have fun with all her friends saw her dream come true.

I was overwhelmed with joy as the secret agents-in-training laughed, explored, and were all simply children, no matter their abilities, financial status, or health. Not one of those children used any judgement as they laughed, as they played, as they dreamed and shared their imaginations with all of our camp counsellors. Maybe the world needs more opportunities to view the world through a child’s eyes.

Looking to add interest to my author-signing table, I searched and found something, rather someone, perfect: a gnome agent. With a trench coat and sunglasses, he ties in with the secret agent theme of my book Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel and is appropriately dressed for this Alberta climate.

Agent Double Gnome began his journey from The Spy Museum in Washington D.C., where he flew to Edmonton for Mission Ice Rose. His mission was to guard and draw attention to the author Alison Neuman’s book signing and sale tables across Alberta. His reputation for being a highly recommended agent, as he is very good at attracting attention, was one of his selling points, but that has been a double edged sword for this agent and writer. Agent Double Gnome has drawn many shoppers to my table, but rather than recommend picking up Ice Rose they want to meet, pick up, and ask about him! Several of the shoppers wanted to hire the agent on the spot and take him home with them. Some of them wanted him to guard their garden; and others just thought he needed to protect their children. Due to his superior skills, he was hired to be a part of Camp Mission Access, where he hid in the darkness on top of a speaker and waited for agents in training to shine their flashlights and find him. The campers all wanted an opportunity to work with him and were also interested in taking him home to their families.

Parting with Agent Double Gnome was something I simply cannot even consider. He has started this mission with me, and we have yet to complete the entire mission ahead of us. True, more gnomes could be hired and imported from the United States, but this particular agent is special. We share a history, and he cannot be replaced. That said, if he continues to be so popular, I might need to have them send another agent to protect Agent Double Gnome.

Agent Double Gnome

Special thanks to The Writers Foundation of Strathcona County (WFSC), the first sponsor of our 2011 season of Camp Mission Access. The Writers Foundation of Strathcona County hosts a conference, writing groups, and contests to encourage and build the skills of writers of every age and in every stage of their writing career. Camp Mission Access is a spy-themed camp for children of all abilities, ages 8-12.

Due to a childhood dream of mine to have an inclusive summer day camp where children with and without a disability can have fun, learn, and explore together, I am so excited to be organizing and hosting Camp Mission Access. Being able to use a secret agent theme and incorporate some of the actitivities that Elissa, the protagonist from my YA novel Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel, learns in her training at Madisyn Academy  has been an enriching experience. On August 4 & 5 -8 & 9, 2011, at The Glenrose School in Edmonton, Alberta, Camp Mission Access will encourage each secret agent-in-training to complete four missions through writing, inclusive activities, games, and dance.

I am honored to have iDANCE Edmonton presenting the ‘Stealth Moves’ dance workshops each day of the camp. Along with dance, each secret-agent-in-training will explore their imagination as they create their own secret agent profile, rewrite a mission instruction, polish their skills as they navigate an obstacle course created for every ability, learn and use memory techniques, and  test their skills trying to crack a code and open a mysterious attaché. The secret-agent-in-training who opens the attaché’ gets to take home the revealed goodies.

Congratulations to the Mission Access Weekend Winners … Mark and Mary Ellen McFadden

*My Mission Access Weekend has been extended from April 1-3, 2011 to April 1-30, 2011 to raise additional funds for iDANCE Edmonton. See details below.

April 2011, I am on a mission, a mission named Mission Access. The mission’s objective is to make the world a bit more accessible for everyone and everybody.

I am a writer; my dream was to have my book published; and in 2010 Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel was published by Fireside Publications. My lead character Elissa loses the ability to perform in the rigid world of dance due to an accident that confines her mobility causing her to require a wheelchair, inspiring her to train to be a secret agent and find out the truth about her missing father.

When I was a teen, I was told I would never be able to dance again according to the majority’s idea of dance. The physicality of being able to walk, step, and run would not allow for my mode of transportation. In 2010, I found iDance Edmonton where individuals with invisible and visible disabilities and with and without mobility devices all meet weekly to learn new styles and steps for their dance vocabulary. Lindsay, artistic director and choreographer, and Roxanne, Development Liaison, take the concepts of dance and twist them so everyone and everybody is completing each dance move, using their mobility devices in lieu of legs or as props. Here wheelchairs and mobility devices provide opportunities for the ones privileged to use them, who may have been left out of dance, to even lift or transport their walking counterparts.

For more on my experience in iDANCE check out my dance blogs.

For more information and to view some of the amazing art and joy that iDANCE has created check out the links below.

The Steadward Centre website

iDANCE Facebook page

April 2011, in order to provide more opportunities for performances, training, and a chance to tour, I will donate half of my royalties to iDANCE Edmonton for every Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel sold via Amazon.com and Amazon Kindle. Canadians may also order Ice Rose - A Young Adult Spy Novel, via my Books page. In Edmonton, you may also purchase Ice Rose at Greenwoods Bookshoppe, Chapters South Point, The Friends– Gift Shop, and the SAM Centre.

Stifling an urge to dance is bad for your health – it rusts your spirit and your hips.  ~Terri Guillemets

 As a teen, I craved to be a professional dancer complete with costumes, make-up, lighting, and a talented cast. My dream died when arthritis confined my joints’ movement. A wheelchair was a positive, for it allowed me to navigate the world. But, in the rigid world of dance, there was no room for my dream.

Somewhere in my spirit, dance always held a special place and was a dream I never could force myself to forget. Rather I locked it up in a safe place until it could be set free once again. In spring of 2010, I joined iDANCE community classes and every week met with a super talented choreographer/artistic director and a group of dancers who shared the same passion for dance. My dream was set free to chasse and grow.

I was honoured to be extended an invitation to join the iDANCE performance group for the Orchesis Dance Motif 2011. A professional show with lights, sound, make-up and an amazing cast of dancers whom inspired me every week. In September we began our journey of weekly meetings at The University of Alberta in a real dance studio. A studio complete with a dance floor, barres and a full length wall mirror. A mirror I played hide and seek with. Every time I glanced into the mirror, I saw the lack of extension in my fingers and the bent shape of my shoulders. Only the flaws were reflected back to me.

Weekly, new steps and concepts were introduced and each dancer was growing and adding to her or his dancer vocabulary. I found myself challenged and loving the creative process. The group would all help each other to make sure we were getting our best lines and performances. The group supported and cheered at all our achievements.

By the end of our practices, I stared into the mirror and saw a dancer, saw the lines of each movement and how to improve them rather than the negatives my arthritis had imposed on my body. I was dancing. This was a place where any differences were never a barrier but rather an area for individuality and in a world where difference can become a negative it was almost celebrated.

When we reached tech week, as we held our positions on the wooden stage for the lighting crew to find their cues, I gazed out and took in the empty seats and how far along we all had come. My body was crawling with a nervous expectation, self-imposed, that tensed the muscles and joints. My expectation was not that soon the audience would be filled with members who would potentially scrutinize every move but rather me letting down any of my fellow iDANCERs.

As our first show approached, in our dressing room backstage, we were getting our hair styled and make–up applied and charged our spirits on positive energy. I looked around and found myself smiling at all my fellow iDANCERs. We all had a dream and had all travelled this journey together. We all shared a passion. We were all dancers. Dancers no matter how we travelled the world…we were going to glide on that stage and perform.

In the darkness, we all tip-toed out onto the stage and took our places. I took a deep breath and listened as a hush fell over the audience. Excitement and adrenalin pumped through my body and attempted to settle and numb the pain that had ventured to suffocate my dream once again. On the stage, while we were all working in various partnerships or alone, we were all part of a community. I connected with the emotion of the piece and too soon the audience was completely forgotten as I focused on the steps, making sure the fingers and arms were extended and my spacing was correct. As we all stood in our final pose and waited for the slide and lights to go down, a large smile spread across my face.

The performance went by in the blink of an eye. The feeling of accomplishment sat in my body and emanated from the other dancers. Yet it was a bittersweet moment as our time together and this one dream was over…well until iDANCE community classes began again in the spring.

Check out the Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel Book Trailer.

The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination. ~Terri Guillemets

Being unable to take advantage of winter activities, I do not take as much joy from the snow and ice that come along with winter as I potentially could. Every year I both anticipate and dread the snow. I am amazed at how quickly I can block the negative elements that go along with winter. Block the slippery roads and black ice. Block the sensation, at least once a year, of burning and tingling as my toes and fingers go numb. I choose winter for the season for my next YA novel. The darkness and atmosphere of the season enhanced the overall feeling of the story.

One scene I have written that sticks in my consciousness and haunts me takes place in a back alley. The tingling, burning, and sensation as the snow melts against a human body were details that were necessary to write the scene so the reader could join me. That said, I took a few months off writing the book and enjoyed the flowers and trees blooming in spring, the warmth of summer, and the beauty of all the leaves changing in the fall. While the characters have stayed with me as I am out promoting my YA novel Ice Rose – A Young Adult Spy Novel, there was no time to allow me the indulgence of climbing into the world of Hindsight. The memory of winter had been erased from my mind, or perhaps I had a convenient form of amnesia.

Then the Alberta winter, that had been so politely taking it’s time, rolled in like the clouds that brought back challenges and all too forgotten memories. As the wind chills picked up and snowflakes were caught up and swirled around, the violent weather charged back into my reality. As the darkness crept in, in the middle of the afternoon, I felt a longing to step back into Hindsight. The antagonist, who is just introducing himself/herself to me, haunted my dreams when I first began writing, and now I needed to let the unwelcome visitor back.

With a warm drink, I scanned through the previous chapter and reminded myself of the story and what has happened since I went on my adventures in author land. While I had been absent, the characters were still growing stronger and going about their lives in the back of my mind. In fact, I was stuck on one point in the story, really the motivation for the antagonist. When I began writing again, I had a lightbulb moment. Oh yeah, that is why the character is behaving like that!

For the past few days, I have set time aside to write in the new book. Returning to the world and once again being with the characters is a welcome journey. A journey of comfort much like returning home after a long trip.

“Dreams are illustrations… from the book your soul is writing about you.”
Marsha Norman

On September 18, 2010, at the Melting Pot restaurant in Edmonton, we launched my young adult spy novel, Ice Rose, and raised funds for The Rainbow Society of Alberta. The restaurant was buzzing with friends, family, and associates.

All the supporters who attended the event made the following results possible. The silent auction, donation canister, and a portion from book sales amounted to a grand total of $1,701.50. Those funds will help bring to fruition the wishes and dreams of a child with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. In addition, I would like to extend thanks to the Melting Pot for being the perfect location, atmosphere, and generous host. The staff was friendly and the cheese and chocolate fondue was delicious. If you have a chance, I highly recommend making a reservation and sampling their full menu.

To the sponsors who donated the silent auction prizes and free draw items, thank you for your generosity. Thanks to Edmonton International Raceway * Vertically Inclined Rock Gym * The Melting Pot *John Lyon Artist * Segway Edmonton * Citadel Theatre* Nintendo Canada * Elsa Robinson Artist *Diane Dominy Riding Teacher/Coach*Artbeat Gallery *Tropic Sun Candy & Nut* Cheryl Kaye Tardif * Curtis Gillespie * iDANCE.

I would like to thank Curtis Gillespie and Rae-Lyn Jarmolicz. Curtis for his support throughout the writing process and for his kind words at the launch. Rae-Lyn for leading the launch as Master of Ceremonies and for bringing an excerpt of Ice Rose to life for us all.

Congratulations to the winner of the attaché – Justin Kshyk.

Ice Rose, a young adult spy novel, is about a teenager’s world that is turned upside down when an explosion steals her dad and her identity. Entering an exclusive academy that immerses her in the world of secret agents, she must overcome her fears and disabilities to discover the truth about her dad’s mission, his software, and the mystery man stalking her before she ends up like her father – lost. Pick up a copy of Ice Rose, at my Books page, Fireside Publications, or Amazon.

Today, my book “Ice Rose” is available on Amazon, Fireside Publications and my website. To celebrate we are having a book launch and fundraiser on Saturday September 18, 2010. We are excited to have the launch at the amazing Melting Pot Edmonton. Enter to win your way in, via our exclusive invite list, to celebrate the launch of the young adult secret agent book “Ice Rose” and to raise funds for The Rainbow Society of Alberta. For each book sold at the event, I will donate a portion of each sale. We are also having a silent auction with items donated.

Be able to bid on items donated by:

John Lyon Artist

Elsa Robinson Artist

Vertically Inclined

Edmonton International Raceway

Nintendo Canada

Segway of Edmonton

Citadel Theatre

Diane Dominy Riding Teacher/Coach

Artbeat Gallery

The Melting Pot Edmonton

Tropic Sun Candy Nut

Even some tickets for the September 18, 2010 Justin Bieber concert at Rexall Place in Edmonton,

And more…

As a teen, I spent several months in hospital being weaned off a medication that was shortening my life expectancy. It was during this stay The Rainbow Society of Alberta heard about my wish and were going to make travelling to Disneyland in California a reality. My mom, aunt, and I left the cold Alberta winter and entered the much warmer California climate. The trip gave my family a much needed break from doctors and hospitals and allowed us to just be a family and believe in magic. Still to this day, I carry the memories with me and know how the power of a wish and a dream coming true.

Special guests appearing –  

Curtis Gillespie, award-winning author and journalist; winner of Danuta Gleed Literary Award and three National Magazine Awards

Rae-Lyn Jarmolicz, super talented performer and multiple award winner for hip-hop, jazz and contemporary dance 

We are giving away an opportunity to win your way onto the exclusive invite list. For an opportunity to win your way in, go to Alison Neumanand fill in your information on the Special Guests form. Contest closes September 17, 2010 at Noon. Even exercise your own secret agent skills with a chance to crack a code and leave with an attaché case filled with free stuff.

Including an electronic certificate for two books from Cheryl Kaye Tardif

A copy of Crown Shyness from Curtis Gillespie

A gift certificate from iDANCE  – IDANCE Edmonton Integrated Dance or IDANCE

A gift certificate from The Wilson Karate School

A limited edition set of Madisyn Academy Sunglasses, Flash drive, and iPod Shuffle

And more…