My birth mother was French Canadian and so I was 'matched' by the Children's Aid with an adoptive family of French and Scottish ancestry. However, my birth father was of a Swedish and German background.

Growing up, there was little mention of this part of my own cultural history. Because it was not talked about, I wanted to know more. I lost myself in Nordic lore: Scandinavian and Germanic fairy tales and literature.

I also created fantasies that I was of royal blood, a missing princess, with a kingdom WAITING FOR MY RETURN.