Why I Started Writing:

I have always had a love for books, reading, and oral storytelling as long back as I can remember, and eventually those passions turned into a desire to write for children. In college as an elementary education major, I had fallen in love again with picture books and middle grade novels. Can you imagine being assigned to read picture books for class? I realized a picture book could tell a whole story in the shortest of words, and I wanted to write picture books. Easy, right?  No, but God had a plan for me—and it took a while. As an educator, teaching gave me opportunities to not only teach reading and writing but to write stories, plays, and poems to model writing for my students. I felt the joy the children experienced when they wrote and shared their own stories, and I treasured their excitement when they listened to stories and books read aloud. Their joy and excitement inspired my passion to write with a focus on middle grade and picture books.

Authors Who Have Influenced Me:

Authors who have influenced me include Cynthia Rylant and Kevin Henkes whose stories have delighted children and set the stage for a life-long love for reading.  Authors Marsha Hubler and Joyce Magnin, whose middle grade books are some of my favorites, have greatly influenced me through their support, and encouragement.

Books I Have Written:

My story, "100 Things,” was published in the February, 2014 issue of Highlights, and my short story, “A Special Christmas Charm,” was included in the collection of stories in Heartwarming Christmas Stories independently published by Two Small Fish Publications, October, 2016. Keep Running, Maggie McRooney is my first middle-grade novel.

What I'm Working On Now:

I plan to write a second book based on the characters in Keep Running, Maggie McRooney and to refine three picture books:

1. Pappy’s Chair—a story about a grandfather who has a tough time giving up his old chair
2. Nenny and BonBon—a story of friendship between a cat and a dog as seen through the eyes of the dog
3. Outside the Box—a story about a grandfather and grandson who love to play together, but one of them plays outside the box