I stand with the help of giants.

Acknowledgements

I live and work in Southern Ontario, Canada. These lands belong to the Mississaugas of the Credit Territory, Toronto Purchase Treaty, No 13 of 1805, Rouge Tract Claim of 2015.

I have not been alone on this journey. Many have helped me along the way. I have been inspired. I have been humbled. I walked in the footsteps of giants to give me the strength and experience to walk alone.
- D.M. De Alwis

Development Coach & Avid Reviewer of WIP:

• Lisa Gurusinghe (IOD, in draft)

My Muses, Illustrations & Ideas:

• Rohan Corlosquet, illustrator
• Enora Corlosquet

Podcast hosts & collaborators:

• Eunah Park Hunter
• Lisa Gurusinghe

Beta Readers:

• Bridget Butt (POS, rounds 1 & 2)
• Kevin Stevens (POS, round 2)
• Kiran Corlosquet (POS, rounds 1 & 2)
• Ruchira Wickramasinghe (POS, round 1)

Sensitivity Readers:

• Shashi Tuteja, author
• Aarushi Nigam, filmmaker
  • Dream Factory

Sample Readers:

• Kushan Fernando (POS, early drafts, synopsis, agent letter, pitches)
• Dinush Lankage (POS, early drafts, pitches)
• Laki Seerasinghe (Student Scholars, POS, early drafts)
• Manel Gunaratne (POS, early drafts)

Writing Group Members:

• Meghan Jenkins (IOD, in draft)
• Shiraz Janjua, writer & animator
• Rachel Rosen, author, podcast host
  • Wizards & Spaceships Podcast
  • CASCADE
  • BLIGHT (Pre-order)
• THE SAD BASTARD COOKBOOK (Free download)
• Dorita Peer, author, poet, & artist
  • For Love of Leo: The Most Beautiful Cat in the World, According to His Lady
• Brian Boake, author, poet, satirist, sports writer
• Brian Burns, poet
• Shashi Tuteja, author
• Chris Kemp, author
• Laurel Galt, author
• Wendi Adair, author, Medium
• Shauna Alexander, author
• Amelia Diaz, author, The Braille Cave!
• Carly Boyce, author, Tiny Lantern
  • THE CARE WE DREAM OF
  • THE REMEDY: QUEER AND TRANS VOICES ON HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE (Lambda Literary Award Winner for Best Anthology 2017)
• Zelia, author
• Christine Barth Paige, author & artist
• Mike Madill, poet
  • THE BETTER PART OF SOME TIME
• Nancy Rathou, author
• Paul Lewis, poet
• Peter Geer, author
• Lawrence Loh, author
• Josy Bongiovanni, author
  • THIS IS WHAT WE ARE: AND OTHER STORIES
• Doug Robertson, author
• David McFarlane, author
• Meghan Ferrari, author
• Natalie Shammas, author
• Lynne Haraldson
  • COMMON GROUND
• Gary E. Johnson, author, radio show host
• The Writer's Community of York Region (WCYR)

Interview for “Writers for Readers” to publishing on Wattpad

Gary E. Johnson interviewed me for Writers for Readers, a radio program hosted by 102.7 CHOP FM.

The Erudite BookwormDiliny M. De Alwis

Mentors:

• Anuja Varghese (BIPOC Writers Connect - Writers Union of Canada)
  • CHRYSALIS, Governor General Award of Canada 2023
• Brittany Smith, writing coach, Firefly Creative Writing
• Kim Abrahamse, writing coach, Firefly Creative Writing
• Susan (Deepam) E. Wadds (Blue Pencil, WCYR)
  • WHAT THE LIVING DO
• Lynne Levy, Product Leader, Mentor & Coach

PATRON SAINTS

I could not shift my career towards writing without the support and trust of my long-suffering husband, Stéphane Corlosquet.

Also, my gratitude goes to my supportive family & friends who trust my vision and root from the sidelines.