Stevie Mack
Canadian Author
Behind the Words
I am Stevie Mack, a Canadian author whose journey to the written word was far from straightforward. As a child, I navigated an invisible monster that blocked me from expressing my imagination. Writing and reading were held behind a door my mind couldn’t unlock. It was only after completing my BA in English Literature at Simon Fraser University and earning my teaching degree that I finally understood the truth about my neurodivergence.
This revelation allowed me space to reframe my identity. My path led me to Oaxaca, Mexico, during my teacher training, where I fell in love with the culture and local community. I spent my twenties teaching elementary students across Canada, gaining insight into the diverse ways people learn and evolve.
In 2016, my husband and I moved to Valparaiso, Chile. There, I threw myself into learning Spanish while exploring the country and traditions.
Currently, I am focused on raising our two young children in Victoria, BC. Motherhood, the most demanding and amazing time of my life, became the spark for my debut novel. Although I still struggle to overcome many aspects of writing, I have learned to unlock the power of my monster.
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A Shell of Herself
Upmarket Women’s Fiction
A gilded cage, a third life-sentence, and the fight to reclaim a forgotten self.
Hopeful the onset of perimenopause is the root of her melancholy, Elizabeth learns she is facing a third life-sentence in the gilded cage of motherhood. She must now discover how to take her agency back while imagining a new happily ever-after.
Left Side
Historical Women’s Fiction
In search of her sister in Chile in 1973, a neuro-divergent Canadian found her voice, unearthed radical ideas, and reimagined love.
My second novel, Left Side, is a work in progress, historical fiction.
Entangled in the 1973 Chilean coup, a neurodivergent Canadian woman must find her captured sister while avoiding being taken herself.
FAQ
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since February 2025. It started during a year of huge life changes: I was turning 40 and my youngest child was starting kindergarten. I knew I needed to start a new chapter of my life, and I decided to dive into writing.
What is a typical writing day like for you?
Everyday I start with my daily pages: three pages of brain dump to clear the pipes of the junk that has been building up. It allows that stuff a place to sit, freeing my mind for productivity. On school days, I usually write between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM. That time is dedicated to either pure writing or editing. In the evenings, I read for about an hour, which I consider an important part of my work. On weekends or non-school days, I squeeze in an hour or two of writing in the morning before the kids have breakfast.
Do you miss teaching?
I do miss a lot about teaching. My hope is that through my writing, I’ll be able to teach in a new way. I want my stories to give me a voice to connect with an audience, similar to how teaching gave me a voice in the classroom.
Do you always know the whole story when you begin?
It depends on the project. For my first novel, it actually started from a rant that developed into a story. I didn't know where it was going at first, which was actually quite stressful as it developed.
For my second novel, which I wrote during Novel November, I planned carefully, researching extensively prior to starting. Even then, the story surprised me many times and I didn’t always know the exact path, but I did always know where the ending was going to be.
Do you have a favourite character?
My favourite character has to be Maisie. She started as a side character but developed into the beating heart of the novel. My beta readers are all screaming that they want more of her. She definitely feels like she deserves her own book, so I’m currently planning and thinking through what Maisie’s story will be.
The novels I write are a study of what it means to be a woman. To highlight the experiences that are brushed aside, forgotten. I am very interested in the female experience, neurodivergent woman in particular.