Really, Aksomitis is not as hard as it looks written down! It is pronouced like this: The Akso sounds like oxo, as in oxo cubes; the mitis sounds like Midas as in Midas mufflers. So altogether Aksomitis sounds like "oxomidas."

  I live in the town of Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan,
Canada, with my husband, David Aksomitis. We were married June 16, 1973, so have been married forever. I have three sons and three great daughters-in-law, and one grandson, who just lives a few blocks away from me, so he always brings his parents over for Sunday night supper. I grew up  outside Qu'Appelle, on the Qu'Appelle Appaloosa Ranch, so graduated from Qu'Appelle High School. David and I moved to Qu'Appelle from the Aksomitis Family Ranch (situated 15 miles northwest of Qu'Appelle, while my family's farm is 9 miles southeast of Qu'Appelle) in 1981, so our sons also graduated from school in Qu'Appelle.

  Food -- Dessert.
Colour -- Blue.
Music genre -- Rock.
Book genre -- Science Fiction.
Holiday -- Christmas.
Season -- Fall.
TV shows -- House, Stargate Atlantis.
Favorite shows no longer produced -- Star Trek Voyager, Dead Like Me.

  I love visiting Lousiana, so that's my favourite state. However, I've had some pretty awesome trips to other destinations, including my three weeks in Malaysia and Borneo, and the Trek Over the Top snowmobile ride from Tok, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon, that David and I did together. 

  I like to go for long walks all year round, although I skip them when it's -40, and do exercises inside instead. Every night I sit in my hot tub for twenty minutes, which is wonderful before bedtime. Of course I read and read and read, because I love books and stories, as well as to keep up with market trends. 

  Is there one author or writer who has been particularly inspirational in your career?

  I have been most inspired in my writing life by Harry Chapin (singer, songwriter, & performer), who I saw live in concert four times--and whose CDs are still my favourite concerts when I make a long road trip. Visit the site created by his family and the fan site.  I have also loved many books -- check my blog for titles and authors. 

  Why do you like visiting schools?

  I have always loved books. When I was in school, I read about 200 books every year, and one of my lifelong goals has been to inspire children to be readers. That's one of the reasons I spent eleven years working in school libraries, and also why I love visiting schools every year to share my books.  

  If you could change one thing you wanted to do, but didn't, what would it be?

  David and I would have found the $700 each to accompany the Sno Pro racers through the Scandinavian countries in 1975 on a two-week tour, attending the three snowmobile races. 

  My career has spanned many different activities, many of which I never dreampt of doing! So, I guess publishing books for children, which I always wanted to do, has been the most rewarding.