Linda Aksomitis
Author, Travel Writer & Photographer

Linda Aksomitis

Question: How do you pronounce your last name, Aksomitis?

Answer: Really, Aksomitis is not as hard as it looks written down! It is pronounced like this: The Akso sounds like oxo, as in oxo cubes; the mitis sounds like Midas as in Midas mufflers. So all together Aksomitis sounds like “oxomidas.”

My four younger brothers and I with Dad, Bill Demyen (my mom is Nellie Demyen) -- my sister isn't born yet here. I'm about eight years old, the one with the long frizzy hair.

Question: At every school visit someone inevitably asks: How old are you?

Answer: My birthday is August 7th, and the year I was born: Bill Haley and the Comets recorded “Rock Around the Clock” in New York City; Hank Aaron hit his first major league home run; WHBQ In Memphis, Tennessee, became the first radio station to air an Elvis Presley record; and Marilyn Bell swam for 20 hours and 57 minutes under grueling conditions to become the first person to swim across Lake Ontario. See if you can figure out how old I am!

Linda Aksomitis, U of R graduation in 2007 (Master of Vocational/Technical Education)

Linda Aksomitis - Graduation from Qu'Appelle High School in 1971

Question: Where did you grow up?

Answer: I grew up nine miles southeast of Qu’Appelle on the Qu’Appelle Appaloosa Ranch, and started school in Grassmere School, a one-room country school. In sixth grade, Grassmere closed and I took the school bus to town, so graduated from Qu’Appelle High School.

My first job after high school was at Wilson’s Supermarket in Qu’Appelle, then I moved to Regina for a year and work at O.K. Economy. After I married David Aksomitis, we lived on the the Aksomitis Family Ranch (situated 15 miles northwest of Qu’Appelle) until 1981, when we moved to Qu’Appelle, so our sons also graduated from school in Qu’Appelle.

Question:  Where do you live and who lives with you?

Answer: I live in the town of Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan,
Canada, with my husband, David Aksomitis. We were married June 16, 1973, so have been married forever. I have three sons and three great daughters-in-law, and one grandson, who just lives a few blocks away from me, so he always brings his parents over for Sunday night supper.

Question: What’s your favourite …?

Answer:

Food — Dessert.
Colour — Blue.
Music genre — Rock.
Book genre — Science Fiction.
Holiday — Christmas.
Season — Fall.
TV shows — Fringe, The Mentalist, and Sons of Anarchy.
Favorite shows no longer produced — Star Trek Voyager, Dead Like Me, Flash Forward.

Question: What are those 45+ different things you’ve been paid to do?

Answer:  Stock clerk, Grocery Cashier, Furniture Upholsterer, Cake decorating, Meat market, Bakery, Head Cashier, Seamstress, Babysitter, Barrel racer, Journalist, Poet, Author, Storyteller, Editor, Snowmobile racer, Librarian, Teacher, Computer lab instructor, Network Administrator, Secretary, Teacher’s Aide, Special Education Assistant, Bookkeeper, Income tax Accountant, Carwash attendant, Web site designer, Online training developer, Home Party Sales, Marketing consultant, Travel writer, Bar maid, Waitress, Sewing consultant, Sales representative, Serger Sewing Machine mechanic, Video producer, Book Publisher, Importer/Exporter, Graphics designer, Lecturer, Motivational speaker, Barber, Data Entry clerk, Receptionist, Photographer,
Acquisitions Editor.

Linda Aksomitis in Budapest overlooking the River Danube from the Citadel.

Question: What’s your favourite trip you’ve been on?

Answer: I love visiting Lousiana, so that’s my favourite state. However, I’ve had some pretty awesome trips to other destinations, including my three weeks in Malaysia and Borneo, and the Trek Over the Top snowmobile ride from Tok, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon, that David and I did together. In 2009, David and I visited Budapest, Hungary, which was a great trip for both of us as I have a Hungarian heritage and we attended an F-1 car race.

Question: What are your hobbies?

Answer: I like to go for long walks all year round, although I skip them when it’s -40, and do exercises inside instead. Every night I sit in my hot tub for twenty minutes, which is wonderful before bedtime. Of course I read and read and read, because I love books and stories, as well as to keep up with market trends. I spend my winters snowmobiling with David, and my grandson, Jon.

Linda Aksomitis snowmobiling in Quebec in the La Haute Gaspésie region.

Question: Is there one author or writer who has been particularly inspirational in your career?

Answer: I have been most inspired in my writing life by Harry Chapin (singer, songwriter, & performer), who I saw live in concert four times–and whose CDs are still my favourite concerts when I make a long road trip. Visit the site created by his family and the fan site. I have also loved many books — check my blog for titles and authors.

Question: Why do you like visiting schools?

Answer: I have always loved books. When I was in school, I read about 200 books every year, and one of my lifelong goals has been to inspire children to be readers. That’s one of the reasons I spent eleven years working in school libraries, and also why I love visiting schools every year to share my books.

Question: If you could change one thing you wanted to do, but didn’t, what would it be?

Answer: David and I would have found the $700 each to accompany the Sno Pro racers through the Scandinavian countries in 1975 on a two-week tour, attending the three snowmobile races.

David Aksomitis & Linda Aksomitis (2010) in the mountains of Quebec, with the St. Lawrence River in the background.

Question: What is the most rewarding thing you’ve done in your career?

Answer: My career has spanned many different activities, many of which I never dreampt of doing! So, I guess publishing books for children, which I always wanted to do, has been the most rewarding.