A Dynamic Pairing…
Writing under the pen name, Emilie Ryan, we, Milena Parent, an award-winning professor, and John Kowal, a clinical psychologist, share a passion for wine, travel, and a good story.
We endeavor, through our writing, to entertain and educate by blending different elements and perspectives. We also strive to create engaging, memorable characters that share in the experience of being human.
Together, we’ve traveled extensively, both in Canada and abroad, and share a love of learning as much as we share a passion for writing. Inspired by our appreciation of wine, especially the experience of opening a good bottle in the company of family and friends, we offer our own wine reviews. We also profile some of the amazing wineries we’ve visited in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
When we’re not writing, you can find us cycling, shoe shopping, and living as much as we can in the moment (easier said than done). Two beautiful daughters and a pair of hedonistic cats, one of whom appears in our novel, LOVE DECANTED, under the alias, Marley, enrich our lives.
Together, we have published 10 books, 32 book chapters, and 99 international peer-reviewed international journal articles. We have also delivered more than 160 national and international conference presentations, and we have participated in radio, print, and television media interviews.
We both hold WSET Level 3 Awards in Wines with distinction from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), as well as doctoral degrees in our respective fields.
We hope our integrity, authenticity, and creativity shine through in all of our works.