Brenda Chapman grew up in Terrace Bay, Ontario. An avid reader with a love for writing, she left home at age 18 to study English at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. After receiving a bachelor's degree, she moved to Kingston, Ontario, to attend teacher’s college at Queen's University. Upon completion, she moved to Ottawa, where she became a special education teacher. Brenda taught reading and language arts to children, teenagers, and adults for nearly 15 years.