Heidi Tattrie Rushton

Like many writers, Heidi Tattrie Rushton has followed a winding career path, including roles such as a freelance reporter, animal care technician, international spy, er, university recruiter, and preschool teacher. With a passion for learning, she has also collected numerous academic credentials, including a Bachelor of Recreation, an Early Childhood Education Diploma, a Veterinary Assistant Diploma, and a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning.

Three years after receiving the WFNS Joyce Barkhouse Writing for Children Prize for unpublished manuscripts, Heidi’s debut middle-grade novel, Pet Tales, was published by Trap Door Books (an imprint of Nevermore Press) in 2024. Pet Tales is a heartwarming tale following eleven-year-old Penny, a budding writer and dedicated animal shelter volunteer. As Penny navigates the ongoing challenges of social anxiety, she faces her biggest test yet when her cherished shelter faces closure. It is currently a finalist for the 2025-2026 Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award.

She also created a family resource website, Raising Haligonians (now inactive), and became known for her playground reviews. This inspired a passion project about encouraging families to take advantage of the hundreds of free playgrounds around the world, which culminated in the creation and independent publication of a family activity book called the Playground Adventure Guide.

She has just completed the sequel to Pet Tales (which is currently under publication consideration), and also has a non-fiction middle-grade children’s book under review. She is currently working on a women’s fiction series.

Heidi shares her Fall River, Nova Scotia, home with her husband, two children, and a puppy cat (a tiny dog who believes she's a cat).