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Three years after receiving the WFNS Joyce Barkhouse Writing for Children Prize for unpublished manuscripts, Heidi’s debut middle-grade novel, Pet Tales, was published by Trap Door Books (an imprint of Nevermore Press) in 2024.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.
In 2025 she expanded her genre collection to include sweet romance and women's fiction with midlife characters and heartfelt storylines. She published her first holiday romance novella, Good for Goodness’ Sake, last Christmas after an eleven-day writing sprint that ended with a broken arm on a roller-skating rink. A sequel is planned for spring 2026—barring any unforeseen injuries.
She has just completed the sequel to Pet Tales, which will be published in the fall of 2026.
Heidi lives in Nova Scotia with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of tiny pets—including a cat-sized dog, three fish, and four snails.