Much of the time, I live in Florida, where I write on my grandfather’s old desk in a bright red study . . .

. . . but my heart is at the cabin my husband and I have built on the edge of a national forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We’ll retire there in three or four years, once he’s finished working at a job that keeps us based in Florida. I spend as much time at the cabin as I can, grateful to have a job I can do from anywhere.

I’ve been a student of the craft of writing for many years. I’ve been lucky to have studied under some of the greats of storytelling and creativity, including Lisa Cron, author of Wired for Story and Story Genius . . .

. . . and Julie Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, the seminal book on creativity that led me to embrace and honor the artist within me.

Though I’ve realized that the stories running around in my head are book club fiction and mainstream fiction, I’m proud that my debut novel, The Truth About Love, was a finalist for the Golden Heart Award®, which is like the Oscars for unpublished romance novels. It has been published in English, German and Turkish.

I spent three decades in Corporate America, much of it as a vice president of human resources in a fairly conservative industry. But I’ve now broken free from parking garages, required office hours and corporate dress codes. I’m able to let my artistic flag fly high as a full-time author and book coach. I love being immersed in stories all day every day–both my own and those written by others. My world is now filled with ideas, creativity and non-dress-code-compliant leggings.

Many people would swear I’m an extrovert, but I’m an introvert through and through. I crave time to read, write and ponder the world. I’ll gladly attend any bookish event near me, but will always return to the quiet solitude of home.

I grew up in the Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri and moved farther south after college, when I fell in love with a Florida boy. I moved there sight unseen–such a stupid thing to do!–but it has a happy ending. That Florida boy and I recently celebrated our thirty-year anniversary. We have two grown sons, whose initials I included when I designed the stained glass at our cabin. Can you find the O and the L?

Thank you again for spending time with me. I appreciate you being here.