My first paid writing job was covering the girls swim team
at my high school for the local, weekly newspaper. It was thrilling to slip my
crisply typed copy through the after-hours slot in the paper’s front door and
receive my $5 check in the mail the following week. Before long I was off to
journalism school and a life-long affinity for storytelling.
After working in both print and broadcast news
organizations, I found interviewing, reporting and news writing skills
transferred quite nicely to client work where I’ve enjoyed crafting stories for
a variety of audiences and stakeholders in both the business and not-for-profit
sectors, including the arts and social services.
I’m a reluctant empty nester who lives too far from my kids,
but now that they’re adults I’ve been able to spend more time on my own writing,
which has been both challenging – rejection and mean comments from readers! –
and invigorating – paychecks, kind comments from readers, and even the
occasional accolade (here comes the humble brag): First Place in the
Inspirational division of the 2017 Writer's Digest Writing Competition.
I am fortunate to have my work featured in print and online
publications like O, The Oprah Magazine, Washington Post, The Colorado Sun, Woman's Day, Cosmo, Redbook, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, the Chicago
Tribune, Grown and Flown, and the Huffington Post,
among others, and even have an essay in a real live book: So Glad They Told Me – Women Get Real About Motherhood (HerStories
Press 2016).
I’m a graduate of the renowned University of Missouri School
of Journalism, where I hosted local segments of NPR’s Morning Edition. Every
once in a while I do something that scares me, which is how I earned a
certificate in fiction writing from the University of Iowa and wound up on
stage at LA’s Tasty Words salon.
When I have something to say about family, friendship and
everyday life, you’ll find it on my blog, A Work in Progress.
Six Word Bio: "I ask a lot of questions."
