Terry Kirk, MPA’94, always knew she was going to be a writer. Her love of words led her to study journalism at Carleton University, and then to law school at Osgoode Hall. She revelled in the nuances and consequences of a single word, how something as simple as changing “and” to “or” can have an impact on people’s lives.
“I love this interplay between language and the law: as lawyers, we often present complex issues as compelling stories.”
But after 14 years practising law, much of it related to health-care litigation, she wanted a change. As part of the first generation of lawyers to have computers on their desktops, she foresaw the opportunity to improve access to legal and justice services through technology.
Seeking a program that would enable her to study digital innovation in the justice sector, she came to Queen’s, which she saw as “an exciting place to learn and have access to good minds.” In the Master of Public Administration program, she focused on transforming justice systems and other public services entrenched in the analog or in-person world.
The program also cleared the way for a career transformation, as Ms. Kirk took on leadership roles as a corporate executive, developing and commercializing new technologies, including sourcing financing in capital markets.
“It exposed me to the kind of characters I now write about.”
It struck her that money and its stresses are a part of everyone’s life, but that both are still difficult to talk about – and times of economic turmoil can be isolating and confusing.
“I felt I’d learned a lot, and wanted to be able to share it in an informative but fun and entertaining way.”
The result is her fast-paced debut novel Pitfall, which introduces us to her character Frank Cork, a successful commodities trader in Chicago. On Oct. 29, 1929, Frank loses everything. Unable to face his wife and children, Frank leaves his old life behind for a fresh start in the Canadian Prairies – but Chicago isn’t done with him yet.
Many Canadians have family stories about the hardships of the 1920s, Ms. Kirk says, but we risk losing them – and the chance to understand how those stories resonate today – if we don’t share them. She’s enjoyed hearing from readers and independent bookstores across the country and doing events at the intersection of finance and the arts. Her readers have been happy to hear that a sequel is on the way.
“For a long time, I was preoccupied with the practical challenges of putting food on the table and building a career,” says Ms. Kirk. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to return to my first love – writing!”
is available by At Bay Press.
