Guyanese-born Maureen Marks-Mendonça started storytelling in the schoolyard at age 9. Before settling in Mississauga and becoming a novelist, she spent many years travelling the world as a diplomat and economist. Eventually volunteer work with young people stirred the fires of fiction in her again, and when she finally stepped back into the world between visions and dreams, Legend of the Swan Children was born. Her novel is part of Macmillan Publishers new Island Fiction Series.  Her website is: www.swanislandhome.com.