about me

Although I've always enjoyed creating stories (and in my youth I called it embellishing the truth), my original career goal was to become President of the United States. I quickly came to my senses when I realized I had no desire to have a job that ages you 20 years in one term so instead I became a middle school teacher. Working in the schools helps to keep me young.

As a teacher and librarian, I have been fortunate to find a way to combine my love of reading with my overwhelming urge to write. When not reading or writing, I work on my other hobbies: lampworking (making glass beads with a torch), stained glass, gardening (vegetables, not flowers), and cooking. (Hey, I've got to do something with all the vegetables!)

favourite books

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff: This book made me cry. I only wish I could write as beautifully.

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman: great story about underdogs, competition, and puzzles.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer: what if the moon moved closer to the Earth? Could you survive?

Rules by Cynthia Lord: just because someone is handicapped doesn't mean they don't have feelings.

The Pern books by Anne and Todd McCaffrey: I wish I could visit Pern and ride on dragons!

The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan: If you were a demigod, what would you do?

Pendragon series by D.J. MacHale: parallel worlds, fighting against evil, what could be more exciting?

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen: absolutely hilarious story dealing with economics.

my websites