I have been writing stories since I was a kid, starting as oral tales I told to my parents with my toys and figurines as the actors. My favorite place to perform these was the bathtub, and I was often prompted with the singular critique: "Okay, wrap this one up before the water gets cold." I graduated to writing scripts with and for my friends and finally to short stories and novels.  

In essence, I believe romances aren't the only stories that need a happily ever after. I enjoy telling tales about characters who make mistakes and still win in the end; that allow changes to come and storms to be weathered with the gentle reminder that this too shall pass; that are meant to make you fall in love, sometimes along with a couple, but usually with a character, a sentence, or an idea.  

When I was in college, a professor told me writing a book is akin to being alone in a dark room for years on end. But for me, writing feels like sitting around a fireplace with my characters, listening while they share their stories. I’m continually mesmerized by that feeling of light and warmth, which keeps me striving to surprise and to be surprised in my work, to tip well-worn ideas to the left, so I can see them in new ways, in a whole new light.

My favorite part of the creative process is dialogue. That’s because the synergy of the characters allows me to believe in magic and the powerful bonds of engagement and interaction. I share stories about characters who struggle and utilize resilience and the power of community to survive and thrive.

On those days when the light has gone out and the warmth of the fire has dissipated, I still feel connected to my characters and readers. The last embers turn to smoke, but the memories and emotions continue to reside within me, and hopefully, you.