Why I Started Writing:

My earliest memories of books are of my dad taking me to the library each week where I would painstakingly choose five books, the limit at the time. Then he would read them to me. At a young age I began to dictate stories to my sister, who would type them, but none of them were ever saved. I really didn’t write anything for publication until one day I was reading a Sunday school take home paper during church and honestly, it was so horrible I thought, I could write something better than this. So I did. I started writing fillers, short articles and teen stories. Then I wrote nonfiction books for preteens and young teens. But then I felt a call to write fiction because I believe in the power of story. I have personally been encouraged or challenged by stories, and after all, Jesus himself taught through stories. Many teen readers are hurting, but they probably will not pick up a self help or nonfiction book. It became my heart’s desire to write books to reach that audience, and Elk Lake has helped me on the road toward that goal.

Authors Who Have Influenced Me:

I knew nothing about writing fiction until I read James Scott Bell’s Plot and Structure. I also reread his book, Write Your Novel from the Middle Out, each time I start a new writing project.

Books I Have Written:

The Middle School Survival Guide

The Christian Girl’s Guide to Being Your Best

The Christian Girl’s Guide to the Bible

The Christian Girl’s Guide to Me: The Quiz Book

Just for Me: Friends

Just for Me: My Family

Just for Me: The Bible

The One Year Book of Devos for Girls Starring Women of the Bible

The One Year Book of Trivia for Kids

Freerunner is my first fiction book.

What I'm Working On Now:

I am working on another YA book. It’s about a girl who finds that everything she thought about herself and her family is a lie, and she searches for her true identity (she is not adopted) and for a place to belong. I am also working on an underwater crime scene book that involves several dead bodies. I actually got my scuba certification and motorcycle endorsement so I could write this book more realistically