I believe writing found me; I didn't find writing. As a child, I would write under our silver maple tree and in my closet with a flashlight. It was a small house with not many places to be alone.  Something about my thoughts flowing through my pencil seemed magical, making me want to write more. I also became interested in history and loved reading biographies, thinking how wonderful it would be to meet the people in the books. My interest in the past led me to a history degree at Elon University.

I have been fortunate to be able to combine my love for writing and history in creative nonfiction writing.  Side By Side, a picture book about Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, was a finalist in the Best Book Awards in 2017.  A nonfiction short story, "Called Home," about two young Marines from Raleigh who died in Vietnam, was a finalist in the Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Short Story Contest in 2017 and published in The Write Launch in February 2021.  These two young heroes will always be a part of my writing.

While organizing my house, I discovered some things about my mother. I had no idea she was part of a group of women spearheading a library in our neighborhood. She wrote about the importance of books for children and adults. Their hard work paid off, and the library was built. My friend, Sarah and I spent summers walking to that library for the summer reading program. The picture on the left is the two of us. Thanks to my mom, my love of reading turned into a love of writing. By the way, Sarah is still my book buddy.  We share book ideas and discuss books we have recently read.

I live in Raleigh, North Carolina.  I have to listen to jazz to write.  It also helps to have my two cats and muses near me. I am a writer-in-residence with the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. I enjoy reading, watching basketball, taking hikes and being with my family when not writing or teaching. I have binge-watched many British television shows and wish to bake one thing off The Great British Bakeoff, but I find it intimidating. 

Little Things About Me

I'm not too fond of mosquitoes and dread them every summer.

My favorite food is a hamburger cooked on a charcoal grill. Strawberry is my favorite ice cream.

I have written for several magazines.

I was fortunate to take writing classes at North Carolina State University with Lee Smith.

Fall is my favorite time of year.  And it is not just because the mosquitoes leave.

I enjoy biographies and autobiographies and recently finished Chasing History by Carl Bernstein. 

At night I try to read for a while next to my cat Ringo.

I enjoyed working as a speech writer.

Sometimes the blank screen makes me nervous. I usually take a walk to clear my head.