Why I Started Writing:

When I was a child, I would stay up late and read under the covers with a flashlight. Whether it was Charlotte’s Web, Old Yeller, or 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey, I enjoyed the thrill of staying up past my bedtime and embarking on the forbidden journey to exciting new worlds.

One day, I was playing in a spare bedroom when I discovered my grandmother’s old Remington typewriter. I clicked and clacked the keys to craft a story about my life. Granted, I was only 10, so there wasn’t much life to talk about yet, but I instantly knew I wanted to be a storyteller.

My favorite high school English teacher challenged me in my writing, and one day she pulled me aside to tell me that she had shared my essay with the principal. The next day, he called me to his office to compliment me on my storytelling style, saying it reminded him of Andy Rooney. I nodded politely, clueless about the compliment, but something in his tone told me it mattered. That small moment ignited a spark that propelled me all the way through earning a bachelor’s degree in English.

Many years passed, and I chased other dreams, but my love for reading and writing never waned. Deep inside, I still wanted to write a book that would keep someone up past bedtime, reading by the glow of a dim flashlight beneath warm, fluffy blankets.

When my kids were small, I told them I wanted to be a writer. Now that they are mostly grown, I want to show them that it’s never too late to pursue a dream.

Authors Who Have Influenced Me:

Reading Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird as a small-town Alabama girl transformed me. It made me realize that someone not so different from me could change the world with words on a page. While it will always be my favorite, I now draw inspiration from authors like Debbie Macomber, Karen Kingsbury, Jerry Jenkins, and Terri Blackstock. I love to read inspiring stories that make my heart pound and keep me on the edge of my seat, and these authors never fail to deliver.

Books I Have Written:

I eagerly anticipate Elk Lake Publishing’s release of my debut novel, The Messiah Project. My short stories have been featured in anthologies: Tales From the Kitchen, Infernal Delights, and Prom Perfect.

What I'm Working On Now:

I am looking for a home for my Hallmark-sweet Christmas romance, Holiday Connection. I’m also in the middle of writing another sweet romance, Falling For a Star. Now that I’ve opened the floodgates of my imagination, I always have a story in progress.