Meet the Author

Once upon a time, a girl of twelve or thirteen years old decided to write a story. The reason why she wanted to write a story has been lost to time, but nonetheless sometime long ago she picked up a pen and lined paper and began to write. And write. She never stopped.

That girl was me. You will know me as Cora Strider, a writer and author from British Columbia, Canada. I write Romantic Comedy, Women’s Fiction, and Fantasy. I’m a tree-hugging, socially awkward explorer and aspiring hermit who wants nothing else from life but to retreat to a cabin in the woods and escape to the worlds I create. Writing is like breathing for me. My mom used to say, “Sometimes it’s just in you to do something.” It’s in me to write. I have to do it. I’m very thankful to have creative parents who encouraged imaginary play and creative projects while growing up. I had a very active imagination as a child and used to refer to myself as “imaginary” to describe myself internally.

My very first story was called The Christmas Cruise, and it was starring me and some celebrity crush I can’t remember anymore. While playing hide and seek on a cruise ship, we went overboard on a malfunctioning life boat and washed up on and island where we had to survive. Alas, my crush fell off a cliff and died. Yes, you read that right. I killed my crush in my own self-insert fanfiction. But wait! When we were rescued, it turned out that he had a twin, and it was the twin who died. Plot twist! My second story, tossed in a fit of embarrassment along with the first one, was called Brenda and Jesse’s Summer Adventure, and it was about a pair of best friends who interrupted a drug deal at an airport, got kidnapped and taken on a plane which then crashed, leaving Brenda and Jesse…stranded on an island where they had to survive. Do you notice a theme? I still love me a good survival story, and yes, Hatchet by Gary Paulson is still on my bookshelf.

I started and scrapped another short story or two before beginning my first novel. Through my teenage years, before computers came into the picture, I used to sit cross-legged on my bed with the top of an old TV tray on my lap and write my stories with pen and paper into the night after I finished my homework. Late night is still my best writing time.

In the past I’ve worked as a kayak guide, wildlife rehabber, housekeeper, and environmental technician. I’ve kayaked with killer whales, captured eagles, scrubbed dirty showers, and helped create a wetland. My hobbies include a variety of outdoor and creative pursuits. If I’m not writing, I’m probably in the bush. I’m a hiker, backpacker, kayaker, explorer, and all around outdoorswoman and nature lover. I love birds and creating things. I love the quiet of the wilderness and letting my mind wander while I follow a trail to some distance place.

I am full of stories. Stick around to read them with me.