about

Photo by Carter Hasegawa
I write middle grade fiction and have a not-so-secret fondness for fantasy with a dark twist...
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Growing up, I was a voracious reader and books always took me to places where my imagination thrived. I love writing stories that spark that same wonder in others.

I'm also a teacher and have taught Language Arts and technology for over 27 years. Being around middle school kids all day, I've developed patience, creativity, flexibility, and an abundant sense of humor! Visit my teaching portfolio to learn more about my classroom.

I participate in writing communities through Inked Voices, GrubStreet, and The Writers' Loft. I am a member of The Brown Bookshelf's Amplify Black Stories Cohort, KidLit in Color, Black Creators in Kidlit, the #22Debuts, as well as SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

​I'm represented by Lindsay Davis Auld of Writers House.
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fun facts

  • My favorite book in elementary school was Mysteries, Monsters, and Untold Secrets. I picked it up at a school book fair. I read it from cover to cover many times, fascinated by stories about The Loch Ness Monster, the "lost" colony at Roanoke, and the ghost ship Mary Celeste.​
  • What was my second favorite book in elementary school? Charlotte's Web, of course. I still have a copy given to me by my third grade teacher.
  • When I was a junior in high school, I challenged myself to read 100 books in a year... and I did!
  • Even though I like scary books, I CANNOT watch scary movies any more (If I do, my fingers are over my eyes). If I'm really curious about a film, I'll just read the plot synopsis on Wikipedia.
  • Sometimes a book cover can creep me out. In high school I read It by Stephen King and only got a quarter of the way through. The cover with the monster's hand coming out of the sewer kept me up and I couldn't sleep with the book in my room. It went back to the library (But I DID watch the movie later).
  • I once went through a phase when I read every novel on King Arthur and Arthurian legend that I could find. Favorite book? The Once and Future King by T.H. White.
  • I love stories with magic and am a huge Harry Potter fan. I once taught a Harry Potter-themed summer camp. My favorite activity was planning the Horcrux scavenger hunt.
  • Fairy tale retellings are some of my favorite stories.
  • I love animals and have two very bossy cats named Leah and Tabitha. Tabby is a tortoiseshell and they are known for their "tortitude" but Leah doesn't let being a calico stop her from expressing her wants, mostly about food.
  • I put off several normal "kid" experiences until adulthood. Like what? I got braces when I was all grown up. I wore them for four years (and had eight teeth pulled too)! Recently, I also started taking piano lessons in the after school music program where I teach. I was the only adult in the spring recital. Listen to me play!
5th grade Me
Leah & Tabitha
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