About

I’ve always written, although I’ve taken breaks to create other careers, first in advertising, then as a high school English teacher, and to be Mom, my most important job. I began writing in earnest when I retired and, since then, have completed manuscripts for two novels and several picture books. In addition, I’ve published short pieces in Humpty Dumpty, Highlight’s Magazine, and Highlight’s High Five, hitting the trifecta selling non-fiction, fiction, and poetry. I have earned two Pewter Plate awards from Highlight’s Magazine. My story-poem The Monster Hairy Brown was published by Thynks Publications Ltd., London, in their anthology 50 Funny Poems for Children. A memoir, Christmas without Snow, appeared in Miracle Under the Christmas Tree published by Harlequin. My short stories have earned awards in writing contests around the country. An excerpt from my middle grade novel, The Incredible Journey of Freddy J., was published in the 2018 edition of the Noyo River Review. I regularly review books for San Francisco and Manhattan Book Reviews, specializing in children’s books. 

I write because I have stories inside me that have to be told. I grew up in a family of storytellers and some of those stories have been the sparks for my own work. I read constantly— always have. Books have been a refuge and solace in the difficult times and companions in all times. I love being able to create characters who become part of readers lives, who take them on journeys to different places and times, who share adventures, and stay with readers for a long time. 

I’ve been an active member of SCBWI for over ten years, attended most of the local conferences in Sacramento and Oakland, and served as critique group coordinator for several years. I am also an active member of the California Writer’s Club Sacramento and am layout editor for their newsletter and volunteer in other ways. I am in two terrific critique groups as well.

I live in Northern California very near one of my daughters and two of my grandchildren, and visit my other children as often as I can. When not writing, I loves to cook up family dinners, help the grandkids with their homework, take adventurously epic road trips, and go on sunset walks with my darling dog, Mason.