Table of Contents
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Every night as a child, my mother read to us. When I was old enough to read my own books, I mainly read R. L. Stine ... until I stumbled upon The Fairy Rebel and fell in love. I knew someday I'd write my own stories about the fae.
In school, I was always in honors English classes and excelled at the written word. For a project in my advanced English class, I even created, designed, and wrote a magazine made specifically for Greek characters in mythology. Think Seventeen magazine for Medusa.
A good friend from middle school recently sent me a Facebook message after finishing Bedlam Moon, telling me how much she loves it and how she remembers me writing stories for our friends’ group back in the day. It’s in my blood.
While navigating puberty and boys in the 7th grade, I ran a popular teen e-zine all by myself. It gained so much traction, Steve Madden sponsored it. I was an “influencer” before influencers were even a thing.
In 2006, I started blogging and have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. Besides blogging and writing books, I’m a full-time freelance writer. You’ve probably seen most of my writing in Forbes.
I spent years selling my soul in the investment and finance world, and have never been happier to have escaped corporate. My readers breathe life into me when the words are hard to find, deadlines hang over me like a storm cloud, and imposter syndrome hits the hardest. I don’t do this for money and never have. I just want to entertain and let my readers escape.
Upcoming Events
- TravelCon Conference – Memphis, TN April 29-May 1, 2022
- Press Trip – Mississippi Delta May 2-4, 2022
- WITS North America – Kansas City May 13-15, 2022
- Press Trip – Salem, MA June 5, 2022
- Press Trip – Santiago, Chile June 5-15, 2022
- Press Trip – Tian Shen Mountains, Kyrgyzstan July 22-August 8
- Books, Gowns, and Crowns – Portland, OR Labor Day Weekend 2022
- Powell’s Bookstore Signing – Portland, OR Labor Day Weekend 2022
- Traverse 22 – Brno, Czech Republic Sept. 13-23, 2022
- Author’s Retreat w/ Maggie Stiefvater – Sabillasville, Maryland Sept. 26-30
- Extraordinary Travel Festival – Yerevan, Armenia Oct. 14-16, 2022
- 20Booksto50k Conference – Las Vegas November 14-18, 2022
- WITS North America – Puerto Rico May 19-23, 2023
- Sailing Trip – Greek Islands June 15-23, 2023
- Group Trip – Argentina + Antarctica ETA 2023
- Group Trip – Bhutan 2023
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Writing Progress
Bedlam Moon Trilogy Progress (COMPLETE)
Bedlam Moon (Bedlam Moon Book 1)
Book Published
100%
Tales of Bedlam (Bedlam Moon Book 2)
Book Published
100%
Wicked Bedlam (Bedlam Moon Book 3)
Publishing 8/18
100%
Bedlam Penitentiary Series
Bedlam Penitentiary
Writing
2%
Aggonid’s Realm
A Realm of Fire and Ash (Aggonid’s Realm Book 1)
Writing
1%
Bedlam Academy
Book 1
Writing
5%
Letters From Bedlam (Idea Phase)
Book 1
Writing
0%
Werewolf Shifter Romance (Name TBD)
Book 1
Writing
7%
FAQ
Q: Did you always want to be a writer?
A: For the most part, yes. Although, I deviated a bit when I had a baby at 18. I’m happy to be back on track now, though.
Q: Can you read/critique my work?
A: I’m honored and humbled you’d ask, but respectfully, I must decline. I have three children, including one with autism and sensory processing disorder. I also write full time for a living, despite barely having the time to do so. There are countless resources available for critique partners and manuscript review services that may assist you. I wish you the best of luck!
Q: Why don’t any of your supernatural characters follow common legends?
A: I love to take what you know about vampires, fae, witches, and vampires and turn it on its head. Many things follow convention, but the origins of them, in particular, I love to add twists to. Why? Because they’re not real, and figments of a writer’s imagination (on that note, if you ever turn into a vampire, please turn me). I’m simply using my imagination to make it fit future spinoffs and related series.
Q: Do you have siblings?
A: There are 11 of us between half-siblings, step siblings, and a full-blooded sibling. I was my dad’s youngest, though. My parents were 19 years apart in age, so my maternal grandma is a year older than my dad.
Q: You like cinnamon roll heroes. Why?
A: For readers who don’t know what cinnamon roll heroes are, it’s heroes who are kind and not cruel. I have a history of significant trauma, including being in an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. Books were always my escape, and I like heroes who would never cheat, make the main character jealous, or hurt her (intentionally). This doesn’t mean I don’t like enemies to lovers tropes. In fact, I have plans to write several. You still won’t find the hero cheating or making her jealous because it’s a major trigger for me and a lot of readers. I’m not triggered by the main female character making the hero jealous, so you may find some of that in my writing.
Q: Do you use scenarios from real life in your books?
A: Absolutely. For example, in Bedlam Moon, Oz calls Lana “Sahira.” The story Lana told about men in Italy calling her “Shakira” actually happened to me nearly every time I stepped out onto the street.
In Riomaggiore, Italy at a writing retreat held in a castle
Q: What inspires you to write?
A: Solo traveling. As a lifestyle and travel blogger, I’ve done a significant amount of it. Some of my favorite places to gain inspiration are Havana, a commune in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, our primitive camping spot just off a logging trail an hour from the Canadian border in Minnesota (this forest spurred me to write Bedlam Moon!), Iceland, and Norway.
Q: Do you plan to include more LGBTQIA+ representation in your future books? How about differently-abled characters?
A: Yes and yes! Two of my children are LGBTQ, and the other has autism and sensory processing disorder. I also have invisible illnesses; ehlers-danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, narcolepsy, and a few others. Representation is very important to me. I desire to eventually have an LGBTQ main character, but getting it right is most important to me.
Q: Haven’t I seen you somewhere?
A: Probably. I’m an international speaker, and was in the 12x international award-winning documentary, #SHEROproject. I was SHERO of the Year in 2020, and used to compete in pageants (State Finalist for both Miss Iowa-USA and National American Miss Teen Iowa-USA). I also regularly contribute to major publications, such as Forbes and US News.
Q: Do you filter your pictures?
A: Absolutely, I do. I’m far too vain not to. I won’t judge you if you do, either. That’s a promise 😉 FaceApp, Lightroom, and Photoshop are my faves.