Local Cochrane author Amber Boyd is among 15 Indigenous writers chosen across Canada to participate in the Audible Indigenous Writers' Circle.

The six-month program is specifically for First Nations, Inuit and Métis writers and it pairs emerging Indigenous authors with mentors to help them grow as writers and entrepreneurs.

Boyd is an active member of the Métis Nation of Alberta and she has been working under the guidance of Canadian best-selling author Richard Van Camp. 

"I'm very excited to be working with Richard Van Camp as a mentor because I love the fact that I can focus more on some Indigenous pieces and people will actually get what I'm talking about," explains Boyd. "Having a mentor that comes from community is really important when you're working on writing within a cultural piece."

Boyd has a long list of credentials to her name. She holds a degree in Psychology, as well as a Human Resource Management Certificate, and Creative Writing Certificate from the University of Calgary, and she already has some published works under her belt.

She says taking part in the Audible Indigenous Writers' Circle is helping her expand on her skill set and learn about the available tools to fund and promote her work.

"Working with our mentors, they have an idea of some of the anthologies that have come out and having those kinds of opportunities to even be seen in front of an agent or bigger publishing houses -- that's what gets my work seen," explains Boyd. Having a mentor that's willing to go that step and try to make those connections is huge."

Boyd is well versed in a wide variety of genres. She explores young and new adult, dystopia, romance and creative non-fiction. She says that these days her writing is moving more in direction of cultural pieces.

"I'm really trying to focus more of my work in that area," says Boyd. "As much as I like writing everything else, I know that these pieces need to be out there so this is primarily where I'm heading to write more of."

Boyd's already published short stories include Life’s Nectar, Time Ryder, Howling at the Moon, The Arcane Protector and The Gift.