"Stories connect us and make us real. Without them, I believe we have no past and no future."
Born in Toronto to immigrant parents, Rita learned English once she started school. She wrote her first story when she was seven.
Rita has a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Toronto, a master's in journalism from the University of Western Ontario and a post-graduate diploma in teaching English as a second language from the University of Alberta.
As a journalist, Rita has interviewed cabinet ministers, opera singers and zookeepers (which is how she got to "shake" the tongue of an elephant). She has taught journalism techniques in Tanzania, English grammar in Europe and creative writing across Alberta. When she's not working as an editor, researcher or teacher, Rita writes children's books in Edmonton where she lives with her family.
Favourite things? Biking, travelling, soccer, chocolate and large dogs. And stories. Because it's always about the story.