Award-winning author of Historical / Women’s Fiction and YA

Here is a quick Q&A about me.

Where are you from?

There are four possible answers:

1. USA: I’ve lived my entire life in the United States of America.
2. Tennessee: Memphis is my birthplace.
3. Mississippi: Tupelo is the town where I was raised. Generally, this is what I answer if I think you’re asking about my childhood.
4. North Carolina: I’ve lived here over half of my life. NC is home.

How would you describe yourself?

Wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, software engineer, veteran, writer.

What do you do in your free time?
Travel, read, binge crime shows and (historical) mysteries, advocate for autism.

What other jobs have you held besides writer?
Wow, lots. Here is just a sampling:

1. 1. Best job: Mom.
   2. Easiest job: Movie theater concessionaire.
   3. Hardest job: Military officer.
   4. Longest job: Software engineer.
   5. Most creative job: Author

What would people be surprised to know about you?

1. I can talk like a duck.
2. I’ve never read the Harry Potter books.
3. I keep Christmas decorations up in my house year-round.
4. I have, sadly, food sensitivies to chocolate and red wine.
5. On my travels with my family, I’ve been to six continents, including Antarctica.

What do you love?
Family; friends; waterfalls and mountains; penguins; travel by train, plane, or boat!

What do you hate?
Cilantro. Everything else that I loathe pales when compared to cilantro (and its evil twin coriander).

Why do you write?
[stares blankly] How could I not write?

Awards

Whisper Falls
Bronze Medal, Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, YA Historical Fiction (2013)

I Wish
Golden Heart® finalist, Romance Writers of America® (2009)

The Possibility of Somewhere / Leaving Eden

• Bookseller’s Best Award for YA Fiction (2017)
• Grand Prize, Gateway to the Best -Missouri Romance Writers (2011)