E.S. Raye

When I talk about myself here, I usually stick close to my life and experiences as a writer, so I thought it might be a good idea to pull the curtain back a little and let you in on some of the weirder aspects of E.S. Raye…

1. I Have Dual U.S. & Canadian Citizenship

But I didn’t find out that fact until I was in my 20s! I moved to Ottawa, Ontario when I was 20 to attend Carleton University. I spent the first two years enrolled as an international student (and paying international student fees!) before deciding to look into my own citizenship.

My mother is Canadian, and although she wasn’t a Canadian citizen anymore, she was when I was born. Turned out, that was all I needed and I’d had dual citizenship since birth without even knowing it.

2. I Let People Shoot Pucks at My Head For Fun

I started playing hockey when I was 12 or 14. But living in the San Francisco Bay Area in the ’90s, there wasn’t a ton of ice available. So, I started with roller hockey. I played as a forward for a year or two until a spot for a goalie opened up. I switched positions and never looked back.

When I moved to New Hampshire at 16, I made my new high school’s ice hockey team and played there for two seasons.

That’s the highest level I ever made (I tried out for Carleton’s team, but didn’t make the cut). But I’ve played pickup and in recreational leagues ever since.

3. I Never Knew What I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up

Some kids know from a young age that they want to be a pilot, or a firefighter, or an architect, or whatever. Even if they never reach that goal, they knew it was what they wanted.

I never really had that. When I was young, I was great at math and loved LEGOs, so adults told me I should be an engineer or architect. Sounded good to me, but I didn’t really have any drive for it.

I didn’t find my passion for writing until after giving up on one degree, earning a different one, and then going back to school for a diploma in a third discipline. It’s been a long road to find it, but I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.

Whenever that is.