About Me
The Official Bio
I live in the Pacific Northwest with my sweet husband and our two teenage boys (teenagers, oh my!) My work has appeared in dozens of regional parenting magazines. I write picture books, middle grade and young adult. I have been an active member of SCBWI since 2003.
The Lengthier Bio
I have always been a storyteller, making up stories mostly to keep myself entertained. As a child we moved around quite a bit - California, Texas, Idaho and Hawaii. I went to 13 different school in 12 years which is why I considered myself a professional new kid. How To Be The New Kid In School.
After graduating from San Diego State University I wrote (and illustrated!) my first official picture book manuscript, THE ADVENTURES OF WESTLEY THE WHALE. This story is about the perceived differences between Westley (a humpback whale) and Claire (an orca) and also just how much alike they actually are.
For a short while I thought I might try my hand in the acting world, so I lived in Los Angeles and did extra work (the background people seen in movies and television shows.) Here's an excerpt from, Back To One about my extra job on the movie set of Last Action Hero with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
While working at Nike Headquarters in Oregon, I thought I would put my extensive (albeit useless) knowledge of celebrity baby names to good use and compiled, HOLLYWOOD BABIES. Which for obvious reason, became instantly out of date.
After my sweet boys were born I found myself inspired. My creative energy went into overdrive, writing picture books, and parenting articles. I am currently working on my latest picture books, middle grade stories and my 20 Minute Reads. I am also privileged to be part of an extraordinary critique group, The Wild Things.
I am always writing.