Margaret Westlie: The PEI novelist destined to write. A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with deep ancestral roots in Prince Edward Island, Margaret Westlie has always been a listener and a quiet observer. For years, she experienced flashes of insight and "second sight"—gifts that were discouraged in her youth but eventually found their voice in her storytelling. Before turning to the page, Margaret spent her career as a Registered Nurse in physical rehabilitation and geriatric nursing, while simultaneously pursuing a deep passion for music as a bagpiper, organist, and violinist. It wasn't until the age of 44 that the "voices and dialogue" residing within her could no longer be contained. What began as a sudden, unexpected outpouring of writing became the foundation for her first published book, Mattie’s Story. Today, Margaret writes from an altered state of imagination, blending her real-world experiences with the eerie occurrences and intuitive insights she has encountered throughout her life. Many of Margaret’s novels are works of ancestral storytelling, inspired by the histories passed down by her grandmother and older relatives. Her work reflects the lived experiences of Lord Selkirk immigrants to Prince Edward Island and the profound heritage of Scottish Canadians following the Highland Clearances. By weaving together paranormal themes, the "second sight," and the gritty reality of pioneer life, Margaret connects modern readers with the resilient women and the thin veil between worlds that defined the past. Margaret lives and writes in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, where she continues to answer the call of the stories that demand to be told.
