Member Profiles

Susan Raby-Dunne

Susan Raby-Dunne  is a writer, screenwriter, composer, producer, historian, world traveller, rabid motorcyclist and veteran advocate who lives on a farm in the foothills of Alberta.

Susan’s zest for life and passion for adventure infuses everything she puts her hand to.

Her new book, Rest Your Head on the Wind: Tales of Trials, Transformation and the Open Road © 2011 has received great reviews and is being followed closely by her next exciting collaborative project – Hope in the Colour of Orange: Dutch Civilian Memories of War and Liberation.

Susan shares her thoughts on a regular basis at Windwrangler.com.

Sheelagh Matthews

Sheelagh is an optimist, a realist, a dreamer, a doer. She is fascinated by water, befriended by animals and talks with trees. Sharing ideas and information is her calling.

She writes about subjects that bring her joy, hope, and, at times, profound sadness—the environment, sustainability and social justice. She helps community-minded individuals, businesses and organizations tell their story to media, funders, voters, customers, staff and others.

Learn more about Sheelagh and her work, including presentations and workshops, at:

Website: www.ideagarden.net
Blog: www.sheesays.com
Email: mail@ideagarden.net
Phone: 403-933-5174

Evonne Smulders

“ Like the art we create we are all works in progress, taking our raw material and refining it to express our being.”

Evonne has always been fascinated with words. Reading and writing are two of her most loved passions. It was only fitting to blend these two passions with two others, nature and art.

Currently, Evonne is living her life story in Black Diamond, dividing her time between family, creative arts and permaculture.

Her art and writing can be viewed at her blog, Terra Cotta.

Angela Simmons

Writer and photographer, Angela Simmons joined MMWG three years ago. She writes in five genres: non-fiction, short fiction, poetry, youth fiction and spiritual fiction.

Her experience in communications and marketing spans over 30 years; during fifteen years of that time she published three magazines, worked as an Artist in Residence, ArtSmarts and Calgary Arts Partnership Society artist and a Calgary Board of Education instructor.  In 2005 she received an Alberta Centennial Award for Literacy.

Since 2007, Angela has committed to writing and photography.

Some of her work can be seen at www.optimismcards.weebly.com and her soon to be launched website www.vanguardpublications.ca will display more of her works.

Marika d’Ailly

Marika d’Ailly was born in Amsterdam and spent her youth in Hengelo, the Netherlands. In 1958 she married Jan d’Ailly and the couple immigrated to the USA in 1959. In 1970 the family moved to Canada and settled in the Montreal area.

Marika pursued her interest in the arts and organized classical concerts and summer art classes at her home. An amateur theatre group used Marika and Jan’s  home for small scale productions. Calligraphy became a passion and Marika, with two friends, put on six local exhibitions.
After retirement, Marika and Jan moved to Alberta in 2004 to be closer to their children. In 2007 Marika got involved with  Monday Morning Writers Group.,this led to the publication of the book, Hope in the Colour of Orange.

Clover Gilbert-Slusar

Clover has been a writer since childhood: gifted with a deep connection to all living beings, she would pen stories of her animal friends’ plights.

Having a strong environmental ethic, Clover has interviewed and written about many of our modern day heroes. She co-authored a popular environmental calendar offering tips and information on protecting Mother Earth.

As a writer of strong dialogue, Clover’s pen and paper is never far from her side.  She can be equally comfortable writing in nature as a packed coffee house.