my story

I’ve been writing since I was 10 years old, pouring my heart and soul into poetry about my tortured teenage existence—all scribbled in the margins of my school agenda. Thanks, Toronto District School Board, for kickstarting this wild ride! I shared my melodramatic masterpieces with friends, and they laughed—probably because I wasn’t getting enough angst out on the dance floor.  

I cranked out so many short stories that will never see the light of day simply because I threw them out. (Kids, take it from me: never toss your work! You might regret it when you’re old enough to appreciate the art of teenage angst.) Life got busy, though, and I hit pause on writing for a while—between career chaos, marriage, and raising kids, there wasn’t much time left for creativity.   

But now that my kids are older and I’ve reclaimed some precious “me time,” I’ve dusted off my writing hat and rediscovered the joy of storytelling. It feels like I’m 10 years old again! Fun fact: I even dabbled in ballet and tap dancing back in the day—nothing too fancy, but it gave me an appreciation for the art. Now, as the mom of a budding dancer, I channel my dance floor wisdom into my main character in Tryout.  

Like many of us, the pandemic taught me a thing or two about resilience, and that’s when The Audience Within came to life. So, if you’re ready for some laughs and a sprinkle of nostalgia, check out my Books By Hayden Mank, and join me for this exciting new chapter (but only if you are 18+years old!)