Eventually she earned degrees in visual art (York), philosophy (Leuven, in Belgium) and journalism (Ryerson).

[1] In 2007-08 she was the Webster/McConnell Fellow in the Canadian Journalism Fellowships Program at Massey College, University of Toronto.

[3] It got attention across Canada and received several favourable reviews, including those on CBC Radio One Talking Books[4] and in The Globe and Mail.

"[6] In 2011, Olson received a "Bookmark" - a plaque bearing a selection from a notable Canadian literary work - in Port Colborne at Lock 8 on the Welland Canal, site of a key scene in Sailor Girl.

The big screen adaption, with screenplay written by Johanna Schneller, begins filming in the summer of 2014.