My Story
My book started from a dream!
In 2005, I spent several nights dreaming about two of my main characters. I knew their names, and I knew how their story began.
While my three young children were at elementary and preschool, I spent a few hours a day typing my characters' story on our desktop computer. I didn’t tell a soul. I felt guilty for spending time writing instead of taking care of the endless list of household chores waiting for me, but something compelled me to tell this story.
Then one morning, after getting the kids off to school, I sat down at my computer, excited to continue where I had left off, and I hit the power button.
Nothing.
No lights. No sound. Nothing.
The computer died, taking with it the first twenty-five pages of my novel. I had foolishly saved my manuscript only to the hard drive, not to a floppy disk.
I took this as a sign that I was not meant to write a book. I still remember the day my husband and I took several electronics to a local recycling drive. I wanted to cry as the CPU unit and my story were placed in a pile of “junk.” My husband was still unaware of my writing and my heartbreak.
Fourteen years passed, and in 2019, after my kids were grown, the desire to write returned. In 2025, twenty years after that first dream, I finally shared my characters' story with the world.
Before becoming an author, I earned an associate degree from a local community college and began my career in Human Resources at a manufacturing company. While working full-time, I earned my bachelor's degree one evening class at a time. It took me six years to complete my degree, all while raising our young family.
I worked for the company for fourteen years until it was purchased and, within a year, shut down. Over 450 employees lost their jobs; it was heartbreaking. Ironically, the day after the closure was announced, I found out I was expecting our third child.
Seven years later, I wanted to return to work and be on the same schedule as our three children. I applied for a position in the Special Education department in our local school district and spent thirteen rewarding years working with middle and high school students.
Both careers gave me the privilege of working with remarkable adults and children, shaping the person and storyteller I am today.
I am fortunate to enjoy all four seasons in Upstate New York with my high school sweetheart and our rescue Labrador mix, Bailey. Our three adult children continue to be my greatest sources of inspiration, pride, and joy. When I'm not writing, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, and getting lost in a good book.
Ironically, writing a novel is what turned me into a reader.
With three children and two dogs, sitting down and enjoying a book was a luxury. Even today, I feel guilty settling into a cozy spot to read, but as the years fly by (it's not an exaggeration, they do!) I've learned to slow down and enjoy the quiet moments.
Some dreams come true.
Some dreams become books.
Mine became both.