Bookings

Pen Name: Aya Winter

 

Specialties: Romance Novelist, Illustrator, Publishing Professional, Creative Strategist

 

 

Professional Background

 

Storytelling Experience

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Over 20 years of experience as a storyteller, spanning poetry, fiction, visual narratives, and song lyrics. Aya has written dozens of short stories, multiple full-length novels, illustrated comics, and original coloring books based on her own intellectual property. Her work centers emotional depth, immersive character arcs, and inclusive representation across genres and formats.

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Publishing Industry Experience

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Nearly a decade of experience in children’s book publishing, with a specialization in stories created for and with marginalized communities. Professional roles have included:

Illustrator and Designer

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Creative Lead and Art Director

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Publishing and Print Manager

Her responsibilities encompassed full production oversight—from manuscript development, layout, and illustration to print coordination and distribution—for both educational and literary works.

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Communications & Media Expertise

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Professional background in content creation, copy editing, and digital communications. Experience includes managing social media platforms, writing promotional and editorial content, and leading branded storytelling initiatives for nonprofit and community-driven organizations.

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Creative Skills

Illustration & Design

Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with expertise in digital illustration, book cover design, layout, and visual storytelling. Aya has created original artwork for books, comics, coloring projects, and promotional materials.

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Web Design & Branding

Training and experience in web design, user experience (UX), and brand development. Has designed client-based websites, marketing assets, and visual systems to support digital enterprise, launches and long-term creative brands.

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Writing & Literary Credentials

Published & In-Progress Works

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• Poems published in collaborative collections

• Illustrated and written original colouring books

• Illustrated and written original graphic novels (Siren series)

• Multiple novels, including:

  • the HGT Universe:

    • Through the Glory and the Mess

    • Chaos in Bloom Part 1 and 2

    • Stay This Way Forever 

    • Breaking Point (coming in March 2026) 

    • Close Enough to Break (Coming May 2026) 

    • Heartbreakers Part 1 and 2 (coming Winter 2026) 

  • Into the Stratosphere: An Aether and Ash Cycle Romance (Coming July 2026) ​

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Professional & Community Involvement

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• Active member of esteemed writing groups, including the Toronto Romance Writers, Barrie Writer Group

• ​Participant in story development courses, workshops, and critique communities

• Selected juror for the Ontario Arts Council, serving on adjudication panels for literary grants and comic book/visual storytelling grants, evaluating submissions based on artistic merit, originality, craft, and impact

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Performance & Musical Training

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Vocal & Musical Background

Trained opera and jazz singer with performance experience across classical and contemporary styles. Aya has also performed as a vocalist in bands, bringing a strong understanding of musical structure, emotional dynamics, and live performance energy to her storytelling. Music deeply informs her narrative rhythm, character development, and emotionally driven scenes.

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Performance & Visual Storytelling Experience

Additional experience in performance-based and visual media, including modelling and staged creative work, contributing to a strong understanding of physical presence, visual narrative, and embodiment—skills that influence her cinematic approach to both writing and illustration.

 

Aya is known for emotionally resonant, cinematic storytelling infused with music, longing, and high emotional stakes.

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Creative Philosophy

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Aya believes storytelling is both craft and calling. Her work blends lyrical prose with strong visual sensibilities, grounded in emotional truth and a commitment to representation. Whether through words, art, or design, her goal remains the same: to move people, to reflect the complexity of love, and to make the world feel a little more connected.