I grew up on a large grain farm just outside of Winnipeg, Manitoba. For me, childhood had three seasons: farming, sports, and camping. After I finished high school and university, I left Canada and worked in Asia for eight years. It turned to be a build-your-own-family adventure. I met my husband in Bahrain, and we had twins in Thailand. We now live in Calgary, Alberta—near the Rocky Mountains.I’ve been teaching for more than 20 years.One of the main reasons I write books for children as well as poetry for adults is because both genres require paying attention to the world, expressing yourself in few words, and leaving space (for the illustrator in picture books, for the

21 (possibly) Interesting Facts About Me about Leanne Shirtliffe