Why I Started Writing:

It’s hard to say why I’ve started writing. I’ve always been a dreamer and an inventor of stories. Early in my life, I decided I needed to write down my daydream. I started a novel (a good thing you’d never see the eight-year-old version of my story). My endeavor inspired my entire class to write their own stories.

Also as a child, I discovered I could make money as a writer. I made my friends act out my plays. We charged our parents a penny a piece. For my two-cents worth, we loved our plays.

For most of my life, I taught others how to write, until one day …

Well, you get the idea. I wrote a book, that’s why I’m now on the Elk Lake website.

Authors Who Have Influenced Me:

Annie Dillard informed my style. I love poetry, and her style is quintessentially poetic. Her turn of phrase, her philosophy—I wanted to be like her.

In Christian fiction, my favorite authors, and ones whose style influence me are Lisa Wingate and Susan Meisner. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book of theirs I haven’t liked.

In addition to being literary, I love being kept on the edge of my seat. I’ve read most of Steven James and Jefferson Bass. I have no clue how to write thrillers of whodunits, so I keep guess (wrong) and keep on reading.

Books I Have Written:

Honeymoon’s Over

Borrowed Lives

Prodigal Lives

Tangled Lives

A New York Yankee on Stinking Creek

Yesterday’s Poison

What I'm Working On Now:

In 2026, Choices We Make, will debut with Elk Lake Publishing.