I'm in my twenty-eighth year of teaching. I've taught kindergarten, second grade, third grade, and special education. I will be returning to teaching kindergarten again in the fall. I'm a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, a member of SCBWI, and Haiku Northwest. 

My debut middle-grade novel, Broken Bridges was published on August 15th, 2013. It is published by Black Rose Writing.

My short stories have been published online: 
http://www.sfcmagazine.com/ and
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/index.html 

I’ve also written nonfiction passages for the education market. In 2007, I won a third place Granny Award in Stories for Children, for Jingo Did It. The adventures of Penny and her imaginary friend Jingo were inspired by my daughter and her own imaginary friend, when she was younger.
 
I love sharing stories with my children and students. We are always looking out for a story, book, poem, or song that makes a difference in our lives.

Some other things I enjoy are watching football, doing yoga, drinking tea, reading, and being outside. I admit to being a Star Wars nerd too. Friends and family shake their head, “There’s another Star Wars book?”
“Yes! There're hundreds. Now let me tell you about the one I’m reading…”

They are sorry they asked and quickly disappear.

Finally, my lost love, the 1800s and the west, I’ve seen all the Clint Eastwood movies and read a lot of Larry McMurtry and Louis L’Amour novels. I’ve thought of writing a novel with the setting in the west. The beginning is in my brain but that's about it.

Maybe the picture below will inspire me…Or maybe a picture or something on this website will inspire you. That’s my hope! Happy Writing!

I have two wonderful children and live in Washington State, with my beautiful fiancé Jaci.

My daughters at Christmas

2006

Here are some pictures of me and other members from a past meeting. I'm in the
green
Seattle Sounders shirt: https://plus.google.com/photos/109619827670013506962/albums/5708805371092178529?banner=pwa#photos/109619827670013506962/albums/5708805371092178529

I missed the dinner picture, I was in the bathroom. Pretty typical...