Carmel S.R. Sottile was born and raised in the small town of Coniston, seven miles south of the city of Sudbury, Ontario. As a teacher, she thoroughly enjoyed teaching both the primary and the intermediate grades, in various cities in the province of Ontario. While teaching in London, Ontario she met and married her husband Ian A. McDonald, on November 01, of the year 1956. They celebrated their 60th year of marriage amongst family and friends from all over Canada. Carmel published her first book entitled "A Handbook for Teachers and Parents", in 1998. Her second book "Life is for Living" not only illustrates her zest for living, but was prompted by a cry of dismay, uttered by a guest who while attending a friendly gathering made the realization...as in his words, "I have done nothing!"