Raised on a cattle ranch in the Porcupine Hills near Cowley, Alberta, Burles was drawn to languages and began to study German and Russian, eventually teaching English in Germany. She has degrees in linguistics and computing science. She works as a software engineer in Vancouver. In 1995 she traveled to Syria and as a result wrote Smouldering Incense, Hammered Brass, a collection of vignettes and stories about the people of Syria and living in Damascus. Since returning from Syria, she has visited India, China, Liechtenstein, and Andorra.

CITY/TOWN: Chilliwack, B.C.

DATE OF BIRTH: 22 Dec 1957

PLACE OF BIRTH: Pincher Creek, Alberta

ARRIVAL IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: 1990

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Smouldering Incense, Hammered Brass: A Syrian Interlude - Turnstone Press, 1999 / 0-88801-237-3

[BCBW 2003] "Travel"