BIO

From Public Health to Publishing

I’m Phil Canalin. I grew up loving Aesop’s Fables, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show’s Fractured Fairy Tales and Aesop & Son, and reading every comic book I could find. After ten years in banking, I realized I wanted to support kids rather than make money for other people. I left banking for a career in Public Health—and found the fulfillment I was looking for by helping young people. Along the way, I kept writing story after story.

Forty-five years later, I’m an author whose work has spanned fiction for all ages, noir, short stories, and even a cookbook. Today, I focus on contemporary stories for children, middle grade, and young adult readers, exploring friendship, family, growth, belonging, resilience, and empowerment. It’s still a wild ride—and I’m holding on tight!

I live in Benicia, CA, with Sue, my high-school sweetheart and wife of 46 years. Jessica, her husband Marino, and our grandkids Manaia Mays and Awatea Lyn live in Hawaii; Kelsey, her partner Paige, and our grandkid Emerson Eiko live in NorCal. Thanks for stopping by!