Cassandra Arnold

Have you heard the expression "The Black Sheep of the family"? Well, that was me.

Endlessly curious as a child, I tried out everything that came my way. A great fan of Enid Blyton, I am eternally grateful that I read about and tested the idea that salt could kill plants before I came across the amazing fact that sugar could destroy a car's engine. I'm not sure my parents sufficiently appreciate their luck even now.

Raised in the English countryside, I escaped to Australia in 1977, where I stayed until 2010. I now live in Canada and take a long time to answer when people ask me where I come from and what I do. Doctor, writer, activist, artist... One life is clearly not enough.

I began telling lunchtime stories to my peers in primary school and then spent decades sidetracked by doing all the right things for impeccable reasons. (Note to self: no more!) My dream as a writer? Transform and inspire lives in the way that books and stories have always done for me.