by Jo Barnes | photo by Leah Gray –
Grant Hayter-Menzies is a writer who weaves words which he hopes will have a lasting impact, not just for his legacy but for that of others. The Sidney author pens biographies which celebrate the extraordinary lives of unique women and also heroic animals.
“I was brought up to focus on leaving a legacy,” shares Grant. “I asked myself: what can I do that is different from everyone else? I chose to focus on the celebrating and telling of a life.”
His works cover notable people such as Lillian Carter, mother of President Jimmy Carter, and Broadway actress Billie Burke, wife of legendary Florenz Ziegfeld. The arrival in 2010 of a rescued Pomeranian in Grant’s life, however, prompted a shift in his writing direction. He began writing biographies about inspiring animals such as nonfiction books Muggins: The Life and Afterlife of a Canadian Canine War Hero, From Stray Dog to World War I Hero, and, 2019 CBC Non-Fiction Books selection Woo, The Monkey Who Inspired Emily Carr.
In sharing the story of someone else’s life, Grant is fascinated by how individuals overcome adversity and how they approach difficult situations. For him, this is where the heart of any story begins. “I am fascinated about the crisis point in an animal or human life, that point when they are facing something terrible or wonderful,” he relates. “It is at that point when their character comes out and when we see their true mettle. I follow it and see where it goes.”
His recent work – Freddie: The Rescue Dog Who Rescued Me – is a poignant and personal account of his pet dog Freddie, who was rescued from animal abuse and later bravely battled a rare form of cancer. The book is about the power of the human-animal bond, and the powerful impact an animal can have on its owner. “It was a way to process my grief,” he shares. “He changed my life and career. I hope the book can help others who have lost their companion animals.”
Grant’s interest in writing was shaped by childhood influences. “There were lots of books in the house. My mother was an avid reader of biographies,” he says. “My maternal grandmother was a very fine writer and had a few things published. She encouraged me.”
He began to write at an early age and later honed his skills by working as a journalist. “As a boy, I wrote fiction and poetry and had my first work published in my teens,” he comments. “I was a journalist for newspapers and magazines in the U.S. and covered topics including music, theatre and the arts.”
Growing up, the women around Grant played a major role and would serve as significant influences later in his writing.
“I grew up surrounded by powerful female personalities. My great-grandma was a suffragette,” he shares. “I write about women who have broken out of the stereotypical roles and situations in which they find themselves.”
His books Lillian Carter: A Compassionate Life and Imperial Masquerade: The Legend of Princess Der Ling are good examples. Lillian Carter was a social activist and a woman ahead of her time and Princess Der Ling, a cross-cultural personality, served as lady in waiting to Chinese Empress Dowager Cixi but was educated in Western influenced countries and ultimately married an American.
Research takes Grant far afield for interviews along with visits to libraries and specialized archives. Sometimes it leads to memorable life experiences like the time he wrote a letter to President Carter outlining his idea to write a biography of Carter’s mother. The response was both positive and exciting for him.
“President Carter responded to my letter asking that I meet him first,” shares Grant. “We met for dinner. He had an ongoing interest in the topic of people building bridges with other cultures and inquired about two books I had written about Chinese history.”
Presenting an account of someone’s life means not only handling many details, but also presenting them in an engaging style. “I like stories to begin in such a way that the reader cares about the person. It’s wonderful to do that,” he says. “Then I pull back to become more objective, telling the life from all angles.”
His extensive research allows him to pull in factual accounts and different perspectives to present an authentic story. “I have an obligation to my reader to be fair and give as true a picture as possible,” he says.
Since his first biography over 10 years ago, Grant has been exploring and writing about the lives of extraordinary subjects. While it has taken him to new places, time periods and cultures, it has also reflected on his own life. In many ways, his works serve as a reminder that every life is worth celebrating and each of us has a legacy.
