At the University of Houston (far too long ago to even be real), I worked for The Daily Cougar as a copy editor, columnist, and Editor in Chief. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and went on to work for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and later the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. My journalism career included copy editing, designing, writing, and blogging.

After 12 years in the newspaper business, I got the teaching bug and became a middle-school language arts teacher. I then got a master’s degree in literacy and served my district as a literacy coach. Now I am a licensed Dyslexia Therapist.

While I have a fulfilling day job, writing is in my blood, and it’s about time I get something published (I’m no spring chicken). When I’m not working, I’m either reading or typing away, trying to create the perfect fiction piece for #NYCMidnight and other writing contests. My debut novel, Sitting on Top of the World (young-adult historical fiction) was published on June 15, 2021, but my publisher closed three weeks later. I republished my book with a brand-new cover by author and illustrator Jamie Hitt, and some updates inside.

Since republishing, my book was given the amazing honor of winning first place in the YA category in the 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Awards. It also won a First Horizon Award for debut authors and was shortlisted for the Grand Prize.

The sequel, Under the Pawpaw Trees, released on July 25th and won the YA category of the 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Awards.