My bioI grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. Fortunately, my parents didn't make me choose between being a literature kid and a science kid, so I became both. I was also lucky to have teachers, family members, and librarians hand me books to devour. I majored in English at Rice University and earned a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. I've had a somewhat unusual array of jobs—from lawyer to swim coach to teacher. As an instructor, I've taught high school, junior high, college, and law school. I am a determined optimist who loves adventures big and small, especially those taken with my husband and two sons. In my younger years, a "perfect day" meant time swimming and time curled up with a good book. Decades later, that's still a perfect day! |
My writingAs a reader, I enjoy a wide variety of genres. As a writer, I focus on science fiction. At its heart, science fiction investigates what it means to be human, no matter where we go or what scientific advancements we make. I have always been drawn to such stories.
My first published book, Vermilion Sunrise, is a young adult novel set on a planet in another solar system. It's a story inspired by our growing knowledge of the universe. Scientists have confirmed that the Milky Way contains more planets than stars. Satellites, telescopes, and research are dedicated to discovering those exoplanets—planets outside our solar system. When I think of my teenage characters, I picture them exploring one of those alien worlds and discovering who they are through those adventures. Using another planet as the setting allows me to show an appreciation for Earth. That may seem counterintuitive; however, astronauts often mention the shift in mindset that comes from traveling in space. For example, in 2020, astronaut Bob Behnken arrived at the International Space Station, looked back at Earth, and said, “You see that it’s a single planet with a shared atmosphere. It’s our shared place in this universe.” We cannot all be astronauts, but science fiction can help us gain that perspective. I am currently working on the sequel to Vermilion Sunrise. |
Favorite quotes
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"This is true love -- you think this happens every day?" William Goldman The Princess Bride "I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." Douglas Adams The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul "I do love nothing in the world so well as you -- is not that strange?" William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing |
"Yet a greater, unlearned skill he possessed, which was the art of kindness." Ursula K. Le Guin A Wizard of Earthsea "Know your own happiness." Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility "We had the sky, up there, all speckled with stars." Mark Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn |
"It’s a fine world, though rich in hardships at times." Larry McMurtry Lonesome Dove “Every configuration of people is an entirely new universe unto itself.” Kristin Cashore Bitterblue "What you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow." Norton Juster The Phantom Tollbooth |
"The debt of friendship is never collected . . . . And nothing is ever owed." Sharon Shinn Jovah's Angel "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." J.R.R. Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring "I have been, and always shall be, your friend." Jack B. Sowards Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan |