About the Author

Laureen Kuhl -Book, Lyrics and Melodies

For as long as I can remember I have been in love with story telling.

At the age of seven I performed in my first show, a musical. I have only a few memories of the experience and they are: an enormous set piece, my cute co-star, and the audience. I loved carrying the audience through the story. I loved hearing the audience experience everything for the first time. I was hooked.

From then on my friends had to put up with being a part of a new show every other week.

Did your parents happen to bring you to a dinner party at our house? Well, you could expect to be wearing a costume and performing a groundbreaking experimental work by bedtime. Did you suggest you like playing with swords? Well, a few minutes later you would be riding a Pegasus and fighting Medusa. Did you mention that you would like to sing and dance too? Now, we're talking.

By the time I was fifteen I was not only participating in every theatrical event I could find, I was writing, directing and performing on a monthly basis at my local church. I also ran their drama club.

It came as no surprise, and perhaps great relief from my parent's dinner party club that I went on to study Theatre at York University. While there, in typical Laureen fashion, I fit in music, dance and improv classes as well as a three-year program in screenwriting. I did attempt to take a class on stage fighting but the professor went AWOL. I suspect that he was entangled in a maiden rescuing/snake-haired lady mission.

Fast-forward years later; I still love stories, I still love musicals, I still love theatre, and my life still includes a family I love. I am happy to say that I have four children and a wonderful husband who not only support me but also provide me with endless sources of creativity. My family is also willing to sword-fight Medusa and ride a Pegasus.

My dreams of pursing a career in theatre and story telling have come to fruition. I have since worked as a director, writer, and performer in theatre troupes throughout Ontario and in the UK. I'm happy to say that my writing has won awards for both playwriting and poetry... and I didn't even have pay them to say that!

I am thrilled to tell you the story of the Porcupine Camp, an important part of Canadian history that contains so much hope for the future. I hope you enjoy it.