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Hey There
For those who are curious to learn more about my journey as an author and the experiences that have shaped my story, this page is dedicated to sharing just that. Here, you'll find insights into my background, my inspirations, and the path that led me to create the world within my book. Whether you're interested in the origins of my pen name, Mark B. Witts, or simply want to know more about the person behind the stories, you've come to the right place.
All About Me
My writing begins
From a young age, I've always been drawn to the written word, though it wasn’t until a few years ago that I seriously pursued this passion. Life has a way of diverting us away from what we love, but the appeal of storytelling has always lingered in the back of my mind.
One memory from my first year at high school stands out vividly. We were regularly assigned essays and short stories as homework in our English class. One of my early attempts was a tale about a future where cash had been replaced entirely by credit cards—an idea that seemed far-fetched back then. I proudly submitted my assignment, only to be devastated when the teacher wrongly accused me of plagiarism and gave me a failing grade. Despite my protests, he sent me to the principal’s office and called my parents, effectively crushing my budding interest in becoming an author.
Yet, my passion and interest in writing never truly left me. About six years ago, in 2017, I had an epiphany and decided to finally bring to life a book idea that had been simmering in my mind. The process was slow—life, work, and family obligations often took precedence, leaving me feeling stuck. However, moving to British Columbia seemed to unlock a floodgate of creativity, and I found myself pounding on a keyboard once again.
My first novel, The Avians of Kondor, came together gradually. I learned a lot about the creative process and the world of publishing along the way, despite not having formal training. There were moments of doubt when I paused, questioning whether I could ever finish. The sheer audacity of thinking I could author a book and see it published felt overwhelming. But I kept going, and now it's completed.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life. I know there are more stories within me, and as time allows, I intend to write more in the future.
I feel successful and proud just to have penned something that feels true to who I am. For the first time, it feels like I’m finally moving with the current, not against it.
The moral of my story is simple but perhaps not easy to put into practice: follow your passion and do what you truly want to do. I now always keep this in mind whenever a life decision is needed.
Mark Braglewicz
P.S. I go by the pen name Mark B. Witts because I figured it might save my future readers from the tongue-twisting, spell-check-baffling adventure that is my real name. You're welcome! :)
A brief history
I was born in London, England, in 1956 as the youngest of three siblings. My parents, Irena Kowalska and Roman Braglewicz, of predominantly Polish and mixed Slavic heritage, immigrated to Canada when I was four. We made our home in Western Quebec, where I spent my childhood surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Gatineau Hills, nestled in the charming communities of Chelsea and Wakefield, just north of Ottawa.
I was fortunate to be raised in a home mostly filled with love. My parents did their best to provide for us, ensuring we grew up with full bellies and a nurturing environment. My mother was warm and giving, always there to comfort me, and we shared many common interests. My father, although loving, was often very strict—perhaps overly so—reflecting the mindset of his time, where children were expected to be seen and not heard. The saying "Spare the rod, spoil the child" was often echoed in our home, instilling in me a sense of fear rather than respect when punishment was not justified.
Despite this, I was the "white sheep" of the family—always following the rules, staying honest, and doing my best to please everyone. As a sensitive and emotional child, I often struggled with my father's disapproval; he saw emotional expression as a weakness. This was especially challenging for me, as I loved the finer things in life—baking, cooking, gardening alongside my mother, exploring the forests surrounding our home, and savoring summer days at our small family cabin on the banks of the Gatineau River. While most of my male friends gravitated toward hockey and watching sports, I found joy in picking wild berries and admiring the beauty of flowers.
From an early age, I developed a strong work ethic. I started a paper route in my early teens and later opened a small fruit and vegetable stand in Wakefield Village with my mother to help pay for my university education. I vividly remember waking at 2 a.m. to drive to the Byward Market in Ottawa, filling our pink Volkswagen van to the roof with fresh produce from local farmers, and then heading back to Wakefield to set up our stand. Those early morning drives were often peaceful, but there were also days of heated debates with my mother over the pricing of tomatoes or cucumbers. We spent our days selling produce to locals and cottagers, creating memories that were deeply emotional and unforgettable.
During this period, my parents purchased an old, abandoned CP railway station in Wakefield Village with some of my father’s architect friends. My dad attempted to open a small sports shop, while his partners launched a restaurant, the Café Pot-au-Feu. Both business's struggled but regardless my father bought out his partners and took over the whole building and restaurant. Thanks to my mother’s amazing cooking, a lot of hard work, and the café’s spectacular location overlooking a beautiful bay of the Gatineau River, it became a hit, with line-ups at the door, especially during the summer months.
After graduating from CEGEP (a Quebec post-secondary college) with high marks, I aspired to become a veterinarian. However, the cost of education was prohibitive, and I had the financial burden of paying for university myself, as my father was not willing to help. Working evenings and weekends while maintaining a heavy study schedule took a toll on my grades, and I eventually had to quit after a couple of years as a Health Science major.
In 1979, I decided to move west to Vancouver, British Columbia, where I lived happily for several years, working at a well-known restaurant, La Papillote. This was a transformative time, allowing me to discover who I really was.
My parents and siblings eventually persuaded me to return to Quebec to help run the restaurant. However, working with family proved to be very challenging, and after several years of extremely hard work and rising tensions with my sister and parents, I felt I had to move on, even if it caused significant tension and a rift within our family.
After this, I pursued a career in real estate as a sales agent. It was a tough field, but with perseverance, I found success and enjoyed it for a couple of decades. During this time, I met my partner and now husband, Christian. Our relationship became one of the most important aspects of my life, likely the reason I was meant to return to Quebec.
Christian and I also opened a small bistro in Wakefield, which was very successful but consumed all of his time and energy. Eventually, I convinced him to sell the business and join me in real estate, where we both did well despite the political unrest and conflicts between the French and English communities in the province. Despite these difficulties, we also managed to renovate several homes, build a new one for ourselves, and create a happy life together.
After purchasing and renovating a 100-year-old home in the heart of Wakefield Village, with plans to start a small B&B or café, our hopes were dashed when local residents pressured the municipality to change zoning laws, preventing further commercial enterprises on our street. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and Chris was suffering from complications from a severe childhood neck injury.
Rather than dwell on the negatives, we decided to fulfill our long-held dream of moving back to British Columbia to spend the next chapter of our lives. We sold our home in Wakefield just before the COVID lockdown, bought a small house in Nanaimo sight unseen, and drove across the country to start a new life. During the lockdown, we had time to rest, recuperate, and plan our next steps. Chris tried a few odd jobs, but we ultimately decided to start our own business, where we could be our own bosses and create something for our retirement years.
And so, Le Brunch Café was born, located in the Old Quarter of downtown Nanaimo. We sold our little house and moved into an apartment above the business rental we took over at 366 Selby Street. It has been an exhilarating time, filled with creativity, passion, and hard work. We did much of the construction, painting, and installation of equipment ourselves. I became the chef, creating a fun and innovative brunch menu, while Chris focused on the front of the house. After much excitement, stress, and a few arguments, we finally opened on March 1, 2022.
So far, things have gone very well—almost too well at times. What we initially envisioned as a part-time business has grown into full-time work, but we are having a lot of fun and take pride in creating great food and providing an amazing dining experience for everyone. With time, as we found key employees and balanced things out, the business has been running smoother with each passing month.
