My Story

I was raised on the southern edge of Lake Michigan near Indiana’s tranquil sand dunes and hardwood forests. I love writing, traveling, speaking, and spending time with my family. My book, The Sharecroppers, was awarded first place for fiction at the 2013 Author Awards.  

I believe Stories are a gift. First, they are a gift to the author. Then, the gift is passed on to the readers. 

Although industry professionals argue authors should stick with one genre and one target audience, I choose to write the stories that touch my heart. I don’t look at it from a marketing standpoint. The most important questions to me are: Is this a story worth telling? How will this story benefit the reader?

My most recent book is an example of writing a story for all to enjoy. Instead of being limited to a specific age group, The Traveling Cabin was written for multiple generations to delight in together.  Parents, siblings, and grandparents will always remember the shared experience of meeting new characters and reading the drama of an unfolding story. This creates additional connections between family members and deepens their relationships.

In 2022, I published my first illustrated children’s book, Me & THAT BABY!  I didn’t set out to write a children’s book. But then, two of my grandsons took up position across from each other on either side of my knees jockeying for favor with me. I was shocked.

Thus, Me & THAT BABY!  was born! This darling book is a fun way to acknowledge children’s feelings and reframe their view of any little intruder. The book encourages close relationships with a sibling or cousin and sets the stage for good mental health in a family. 

When I visit preschools to read this book to the children, I start by stating that “babies are little lugs. Babies don’t actually do anything, but everybody gets excited when the baby smiles.” I tell them, "I don’t get it ‘cause I’ve been smiling for years, and nobody gets excited.” The children are immediately engaged. They can relate to those feelings. 

I am often asked if I am a Christian author. I would say I am a Christian who writes books. Being a word person, it matters to me which is the noun—meaning the essence or core of something and which is the adjective—a partial description of the noun. My core is found in Jesus. Writing is one thing I do along with being a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend. The books I write are not overtly religious, but they come from a deep belief in how much God loves us and wants us to be whole.