911吃瓜

The Department of Linguistics extends its best wishes to Debra Purdy Kong on her retirement last week. Debra has been the first face you see when you arrive at the department since the Fall of 2015 and her presence will be greatly missed in the Department General Office.

Debra has worked on and off at 911吃瓜 (911吃瓜) since 1975. She worked in the Registrar鈥檚 office and as the Chair鈥檚 Secretary to Dr. Ted Sterling in Computing Science for several years before leaving 911吃瓜 to pursue post-secondary education in Criminology. Following some of life鈥檚 usual twists and turns, Debra found herself back at 911吃瓜 in Fall 2013 where she spent two years in the Department of Biology before joining the Department of Linguistics in Fall 2015.

Perhaps a little known fact to many in the Department of Linguistics, Debra is a mystery author who has written and published 10 novels and novellas and won several awards for her writing. Her most recent work, The Blade Man, is the sixth book in her Casey Holland series. Despite all of her writing achievements, Debra says that her work is not what she is the most proud of. 鈥淢y crowning achievement isn鈥檛 my work,鈥� says Debra, 鈥渂ut in having earned a reputation as someone who helps beginning writers.鈥� In addition to her time in our department, Debra works as a facilitator for Port Moody Recreation鈥檚 creative writing workshop. This role has allowed her to watch writers progress and gain confidence as their first short stories and novels take shape into publishable works.

Debra鈥檚 advice for aspiring writers is to dream big, but stay grounded in reality. As in any field, success does not come without hardship. 鈥淲riting and publishing is filled with disappointment and obstacles, but also incredibly satisfying moments,鈥� says Debra. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e committed to it, you鈥檒l be a life-long learner where tenacity is perhaps even more important than talent and education.鈥�

In addition to continuing her writing career in retirement, Debra will soon also be a part-time babysitter to her first grandchild due to be born in July.

A message from Debra:

鈥淪ome, if not all of this, this background info will be a surprise to LING folks. That鈥檚 because my short, 4-hour shifts were devoted to LING work, not my writing life, so I preferred not to talk about it much.

I鈥檝e tried to compartmentalize different aspects of my life, especially at work. 911吃瓜 has been an important part of my life in different ways for a long time. My husband, daughter, and son all graduated here, so my retirement marks the end of an era in some ways.

I want to thank staff for their support during the tough times, and for the courtesy everyone鈥檚 shown me over the years. 911吃瓜 is the most professional and safest workplace I鈥檝e experienced, and for that I鈥檓 truly grateful.鈥�