She walked down the same halls as you. She learned in the same classrooms as you. For all those Interrobang contributors out there, she worked the same job as you. Aspiring writers at Fanshawe have an amazing role model in Madeline Sonik, proud graduate of the class of 1979.

Sonik, whose published works include Fresh Blood: New Canadian Gothic Fiction, Belinda and the Dust Bunnies, When I Was a Child: Stories for Grownups and Children, Stone Sightings and Afflictions & Departures, knew at an early age that writing was what she wanted to do. "I was 14 when I thought I'd like to become a writer," explained Sonik, "I'd seen Roald Dahl on a talk show — The Merv Griffin Show, I think — and was attracted to the life of creativity and introspection he described. I recall thinking how great to spend the entire day working with your own imaginings."

For Sonik, writing was also a therapeutic experience. Her father passed away during that same year and she said, "Writing can be a reflexive way for many people to deal with grief and facilitate self-healing."

The following year, Sonik moved to England and worked as a cleaner in a girls' school. During her time there she read extensively and tried to write a little something each day. Two years later, when she heard about the General Arts and Science program here at Fanshawe, Sonik jumped at the opportunity to attend.

Of her time here on campus, Sonik said, "My time at Fanshawe was, without a doubt, the best academic experience of my life." She spoke highly of her former school and said she greatly appreciated "the wonderful, affirming teachers, the great classes and the opportunities to write. I was actually very sad to leave Fanshawe."

While attending Fanshawe, Sonik worked part-time as a writer for Interrobang. "Al (the Editor-In-Chief at that time) really appreciated his reporters and basically allowed us to write the stories we felt called to write," Sonik said of the freedom she had within her job. "I remember once, I filled an entire page on the experience of my ruptured appendix. I filled another page on my first experience donating blood. This made me want to write more and also gave me increasing confidence in my abilities."

After leaving, Sonik went on to attend the "more impersonal" University of Western Ontario, getting a B.A. in history and English and an M.A. in journalism. "Still not having enough of school," Sonik received an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of British Columbia and a Ph.D. in education.

Now, living in B.C. and dividing her time between writing and teaching at the University of Victoria, Sonik's new work, Afflictions & Departures, is garnering national recognition. Besides being recently nominated for the Charles Taylor Prize for literary nonfiction, it was also nominated for the B.C. National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction.

When asked about her love of writing, Sonik admitted that writing is "incredibly difficult and frustrating." She added, however, that "after a great deal of struggle, after giving up two or three times, and coming back to something two or three times, I finally do figure out the best way to express a particular idea and this makes all of the anguish seem worthwhile."

It is truly an inspiration to have such a talented alumnus receive this kind of acclaim for her work in the literary world. For all those Falcons who want to follow in her flightpath, Sonik offered a final piece of advice: "If you want to write, you need to read … and if you want to write well, you need to read really good writing. It's amazing how few want-to-be writers realize this." So get reading, get writing and you could be the next great writer to emerge from these halls.

For more information on the awards for which Sonik is nominated, visit thecharlestaylorprize.ca and bcachievement.com/nonfiction.