My Story

I have been telling stories since I learned to talk. It's a skill I learned from my dad, who, in my opinion, was the best storyteller I have ever been honored to know.

Dad had a process when he told his stories. First, he would set the scene. He might tell you about the weather that day or what he ate for breakfast, and he ALWAYS told you what he was wearing. He painted a picture with his words and once he had you hooked, he would lean in and give you a hint of where his story was going. His hand gestures and facial animations kept you connected and just when you thought he was getting to the point, he would introduce the side-story, which would ultimately make the comedic conclusion of whatever adventure he was narrating that much more poignant.

Dad's stories always left his audience (yes, his audience; all he was missing was a microphone) in tears of laughter, and he always left the people he came into contact with a little happier than he found them.

As I grew older and began honing my own storytelling skills, I would often see him watch others as they listened to my stories. My proudest moments were seeing him watch my audience's reactions, sending a wink my way when a particular story landed, and, of course, when I was able to make him laugh that big, contagious laugh of his.

I began writing in high school just for fun, and for about a minute and a half, I pursued a degree in broadcasting and journalism in college, where I dabbled in writing for the school newspaper and excelled in creative writing. Life happened, and I found myself in a career in early childhood education. I struggled to find a curriculum or children's books that were effective for my program, so I wrote my own curriculum and made up my own stories, and little did I know, the first seed of 'writing for real' was planted.

I began to feel a tug toward real estate after about fifteen years in child care, and in 2014, I took the giant leap into a brand new career as a Realtor. Dad said he was amazed at my ability to re-invent myself, which I needed to hear because I was terrified! I went from a career that I felt so confident into one where I had more questions than answers.

Luckily, with the help of mentors and incredibly supportive colleagues, I found my way. Although I've never been a natural salesperson, staging and marketing my listings filled that artistic side of me. My favorite part of taking a new listing was talking to homeowners about why they loved living in their homes. The stories I heard touched my heart, and I was able to take those stories and create a personality for the house that I could use when marketing it to potential buyers. I continued my writing during this time, but mainly in the form of blogs and journals.

Dad passed away on July 4th, 2017. That day, the world lost a great man, and I lost a hero. I can still hear his voice, his laugh, and all of his stories in my heart and in my mind, and my family re-tells his tales often. Although we smile through tears now, we smile. He still leaves us feeling the joy of a story well-told.

And so here I am! I have stories to tell. My hope is that, like my dad, I can tell my stories in a way that will leave my readers in a better place than where I found them and hopefully, with a smile on their face. My dad will always be my favorite narrator, but I am also inspired by many great authors. I read any chance I get, usually suspense, psychological thrillers, or mystery novels, but I love a good romance too.

I grew up with Nancy Drew, The Babysitters Club, and Sweet Valley High, and I later fell into a deep love of anything Stephen King or John Grisham. My current go-to's are Minka Kent, James Patterson, Liane Moriarty, and Rachel Caine.

When I'm not reading or writing, I spend my time with my husband, three kids, two dogs, two cats, two birds, and an elderly bearded dragon (seriously, he's really old!). If they're all busy, I'm probably decorating my house or watching a good Lifetime movie.

I look forward to sharing my of stories with you!