A little bit about me...

I knew from an early age that I would one day be a storyteller. As I became immersed in the world of picture books after having my own children, I was inspired by their imaginations which, in turn, led to story ideas. In particular, “castle of knots” was a term my young daughter coined when describing an especially tangled bedhead, leading me to envision a princess being saved from a castle covered in brambles by a knight (her brave mom).

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I enjoy using fantasy tropes to explain reality to children. In blending everyday experiences, such as the morning routine of hair wrangling, with fantastical elements, I hope to foster a love of imagination in young children that stays with them long after the book is closed. And for parents, my goal is to bring a lightness to daily dilemmas that can be stressful and frustrating.

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A majority of my life has been dedicated in various ways to supporting children, parents, and reading. As a secondary ELA teacher for seven years, I often used picture books and children’s poetry to teach literary concepts to high schoolers, including extended metaphor, allusion, and symbolism—figures of speech later prevalent in my own picture books. For two years, I acted as the president of a local MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support), a role which allowed me to support stay-at-home parents, organize guest speakers on parent and family-related issues, and participate in community service including fundraising for children facing serious medical challenges. 

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When I'm not writing inventive stories for families to enjoy together, I like traveling, reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and spending time with my family. I live with my husband and our two children, an eight-year-old daughter and three-year-old son, along with our dog, Duchess, in Georgia.