Anne Giardini, QC, BA’80, is a novelist, lawyer, president of Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, member of the SFU Board of Governors, and daughter of late novelist Carol Shields. Her first novel, The Sad Truth about Happiness, was shortlisted for the Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award in 2006 and for an Audie Award for outstanding audiobook. Her second novel, Advice for Italian Boys, was published in 2009.

How do you combine your heavy workload with your extensive volunteer activities and still have time to write?

I try to set realistic timelines for each thing I do, and I schedule time for longer meetings and tasks. This includes blocking time to read novels, go to yoga, walk, visit with friends, and be with my three children, all now young adults. Some days have more balance than others, and I accept that. Oh, and I have hired a wonderful woman, Lorna, to do the cleaning and laundry. I should have mentioned her first because she is of course the linchpin that keeps the wheels from falling off.

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