I grew up in a rural area without close neighbors. Early on, I found companionship in books. I drank in fairy tale world possibilities, loved the smidge of fear and suspense of a good ghost story, and devoured stories of nature, especially exotic animals and places. As I got older, books served as my window to the wider world and my escape from small-town monotony.

In my adult professional life, I’ve worked in non profit communications. The dream of completing a work of fiction, like those that inspired my younger self, has always needled me, whispered in my ear at the end of a long, frustrating day of giving my time to others.

Determined to transform a dream into reality, I’ve completed a middle-grade grounded fantasy, Shadows, Secrets, and the Spark Squires, based on my life in the USVI (currently querying), and a picture book manuscript based on the true story of a family heirloom. Years of watching youth sports as a parent spectator morphed into an in-progress upper middle-grade coming of age lacrosse story, and I’m working on two draft PBs (one bittersweet, one funny) inspired by my family.

I’ve moved several times in my life and welcome change as a new adventure. I currently live in Appalachia with my middle school-aged son, husband, and our terrier, my at-home editor and sounding board.