Works in Progress – novels, short stories and RPG adventure modules:- Red Sky at Morning (Historical Horror, Novel)- Eldritch Chronicles (Historical Lovecraftian Sci-Fi Horror, Novel)- “Sophie Briggs: An Eldritch Chronicles Story” (Historical Lovecraftian Horror, Short Story Tie-In) - “Lightning in a Bottle” (Wild West/Steampunk Paranormal Short Story, Prequel to “In The Blood”)- “Monsters Among Us” (Young Adult, Coming of Age Horror Story, Short Story)- “Blood and Thunder” (Dungeons & Dragons 5e RPG Adventure Module)Courses: - Can-Con Winter Novel Writing Workshop, with Marie Bilodeau- RPG Writer Workshop with Ashley WarrenContract Work:- Ilinniapaa Campus in Iqaluit, Nunavut. (Nov. 2015 – Feb. 2016) Wrote text for a number of promotional products and purposesVolunteer Work:Wrote promotional text for:- Gallery 215 (Selma / Maitland, NS), - The Maitland Launch Festival (Maitland, NS), - EHFOG: The East Hants Fracking Opposition Group (East Hants, Nova Scotia)

Currently listed with Dynamic Personnel as a Consultant for hire with a background in Marketing, Advertising, and Communications, and training in Professional Writing.

Hobby Centre Operator (Full Time, Interim Position / OCT 2016 - JUN 2017)Hobby Centre Operator (On Call / JUL 2017 - JUN 2019)- Assist, on average, 25 customers a day in finding or selecting product, as well as running introductory activities- Teaching hobby skills – building and painting models, and how to play games with them – to new and existing customers- Building the community of gamers, thereby expanding the customer base- Stocking, replenishing, and organizing inventory with accuracy and efficiency, maintaining a clean, neat and professional store environment- Providing outstanding customer service and a creating a safe and welcoming environment, attracting new customers, returning customers, and repeat customers- Improved store ranking – based on North American store sales – from 30th place to 8th during an eight month period

Having pursued admission to the Sessiorium of Creatives at The Ed Greenwood Group (TEGG), I was invited to pitch stories in September 2016. My pitch was well received, development was initiated, but the Sessorium ended before the writing began.

- Prepared for the 2016 operational season by developing an advertising and marketing plan, as well as a customer service plan that would create added value to the visitor’s experience, all based on research into running successful tourism businesses and customer behaviour. - Developed communication materials rooted in story that told of the historic nature of the venue, the role of the venue in the ongoing story of the lives of the local community members, and the stories of the artists and their work. - Worked in the gallery throughout the entire open season from April to October, learning the stories of the visitors who came, told the stories of the building, the artists and their art, and facilitated the sales of artwork displayed in the gallery. - Told visitors the story of how the gallery fitted into the greater context of the other visitor experience opportunities to be had in the immediate region, up and down the coast, to maximize their enjoyment and time in the area.

(Student Placement Position)- Updated and edited the corporate website and various online materials, such as the company profile in government and aboriginal organization databases.- Wrote posts and loaded them onto the corporate Facebook page.- Edited proposals and wrote supplemental text as requested.- Identified the element of storytelling as one of the features of Earthlore’s designs and products, which separated them from their competitors.- Researched storytelling and how it affects listeners – emotionally, mentally, and physically – and identified how this advantage could be utilized in promotional materials. - Researched Earthlore’s competition in the Nunavut market, as well as challenges and opportunities to pursuing work in that market. Also researched and identified similar companies and other market opportunities (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavik) that might be lucrative for Earthlore to compete in. - Researched federal funding opportunities and associated project guidelines for pitching potential projects to an Earthlore client. Wrote a discussion paper for the account rep and client representatives, and participated in the meeting. - Prepared a presentation and report which summarized market research and recommendations, and pitched a direct mail campaign linked to their website and onsite visits, based on the researched storytelling approach.

I have successfully completed the Professional Writing Program, which included a six-week field placement at EarthLore Communications. (I have a separate entry for EarthLore above.) Our program was a two year, four semester program, for which I was on the Dean's Honour Role each semester, and will be graduating with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.9 out of 4.0.

Full-time Hobby Specialist (Feb 2009 - June 2012) Part-time Hobby Specialist (Dec 2012 - Feb 2013)Storytelling was an important part of the job description as a Hobby Specialist at Games Workshop. It played a role in introductory activities and hobby skills training, in telling customers about the various games and world settings, and about the armies that crossed swords on the miniature battlefields. - Ran introductory activities for potential customers, new to the Games Workshop hobby: Tabletop Miniature War Gaming- Assisted customers in finding or selecting products that met their hobby needs- Taught hobby skills – building and painting models, and how to playing games with them – to new and existing customers- Built the community of gamers, thereby expanding the customer base- Stocked, replenished, and organized inventory with accuracy and efficiency, maintaining a clean, neat and professional store environment- Provided outrageous customer service and a welcoming environment, attracting new customers, returning customers, and repeat customers - Key holder with responsibility to open and close the till, make coin orders and bank deposits

Worked both independently and as a team member depending on the nature of the project being done.Maintained and developed a variety of communication products:- Wrote and designed ads that appeared in The Nunavut Travel Planner, Above & Beyond, and Up Here- Gathered content, wrote and edited articles, designed and laid out issues of the Nunavut Field Unit Newsletter, Tumivut- Generated content through research, writing, photo searches and photography for three exhibits in Nunavut. Also worked on layout and design of these materials.- Annually updated park promotional booklets and the relevant Nunavut park promotional pages on the Parks Canada website.- Conducted photo searches for incoming requests from publishers and media, and also for internal requests.- Collected, cleaned, scanned and organized images for the Nunavut Field Image Bank. Built a database and retrieval system.- Managed a number of projects simultaneously, troubleshooting when necessary to ensure on-time delivery of products and services.- Provided products and services to other members of the staff, other divisions of Parks Canada or the Government of Canada, and the visitors or the general public.- Demonstrated excellence in customer service in order to establish and build healthy relationships with coworkers and the community.

FULL-TIME OPERATIONS (Sept. 2004 - Jun. 2006)Managed and ran a full-time full-service photo studio, doing everything from passport photos to portraits, and personal to commercial photographyPlanned, wrote, designed and produced all Stephen Lowe Photography promotional materials, advertisements and signageRepresented Stephen Lowe Photography at the 2005 and 2006 Nunavut Trade Shows; did interviews on CBC Radio North and Raven Rock 99.9 FM promoting the trade show and my business. PART-TIME OPERATIONS (May 2002 - August 2004, July 2006 - June 2008)Offered official documentation photos to the general public, first in facilities provided by another organization and then in April 2004 from my own studio. Before this, commercial photography services dating back to 2002 were the only services offered.

ACCOUNT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE / SENIOR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE (May 1995 - August 2004)Met with clients to determine their needs, the requirements, specifications and guidelines of projectsWrote project briefings (used in the stages of quoting, creative design and production, creative evaluation and client feedback) that included product specifications, product objectives, target market descriptions, and creative rationaleRequested and reviewed quotations and proposals as requiredResearched, collected and organized materials for creative and production personnel, including writing for the product, editing supplied materials, and creating thumbnail sketches to convey client design requestsBriefed and worked with creative teams to produce comprehensives that met client needs and expectationsWrote creative rationale documents that presented project objectives, goals, and methods whereby design concepts were conceived and rationale for design choices madeWrote a survey, created a recording database to track survey responses, performed data entry of survey responses, analysed data and wrote an analysis reportMade artwork presentations to clients and negotiated changes to artworkSaw artwork to final approval stage and project completion; delivered final product to the clientInvoiced completed jobsDesigned and created project request forms that recorded all the pertinent details that would be required for quotation, creative direction and product delivery, streamlining the process and ensuring accuracy of the final product. The form was accepted adopted company-wide when it's usefulness was proven.Represented the company at public events, such as the Nunavut Trade Show, and made awards presentations and speeches on behalf of the company at graduation events at Inuksuk High School and Nunavut Arctic CollegeMajority of projects included business cards, stationery, brochures, signs, advertisements, websites and annual reports.

Sold advertising into Nunatsiaq News weekly editions and special supplements: Addictions Supplement, Education Supplement, Baffin Business Quarterly

- Sold advertising for Arctic Circle magazine, Canadian Housing magazine and Nunatsiaq News Supplements (Addictions Supplement, Education Supplement, Baffin Business Quarterly)- Sold advertising into The Baffin Handbook

ASSISTANT MANAGER - Place de Ville Shopping Centre Store, Ottawaincludes duties as per salesperson (detailed below) plus:Running and managing the store in the absence of the store managerDaily deposits and coin orders / Staff scheduling / Handling customer complaints / Assisting the photolab staff including:- prepping the negative and photo print processing machines for daily use, - loading films and running them through the processors, - printing rolls of film, - basic cleaning of the machines at day's endRunning the photolab on weekends when no lab staff were at work=================================FULL-TIME SALESPERSON - Carlingwood, Royal Bank Centre Locations, Ottawa - duties listed as per part-time salesperson including:Camera sales and sales of other equipment, receiving camera & equipment repairsAnnual inventory and monthly inventory spot-checksMinor photolab assistanceSetting up store signage and camera displays when materials were supplied for sales and special promotions, creating exciting and interesting displays for periods when no sales or special promotions materials were provided=================================PART-TIME SALESPERSON - Carlingwood, Bayshore and Rideau Centre Locations, OttawaTaking clients' rolls of film for processingReviewing clients pictures and teaching photography techniques which would improve their photographsSales of basic items, handling cash, stocking shelves, and cleaning the store