Author Q&A

How did you get started writing?

In second grade I wrote an essay about how I didn’t want to go to school and my mom made me go anyway even though I said had a stomach ache. It was an impressive rant for a 7-year-old who could barely manage a pencil.

My first handmade book a year later was rhyming poetry about Jesus, illustrated in crayon with teddy bears and rainbows. I followed that with The Mystery of the Stolen Cookies. Spoiler: The thief was my little sister and of course she was properly punished. No more love and rainbows in book 2.

I went on to get a BA in English, and later became a professional copywriter. I’ve written hundreds of ads, websites, feature articles, and blog posts. But I’ve never stopped WRITING writing.

There’s an obscenely heavy trunk crammed full of old journals in the garage, plus random docs scattered around my laptop. Some pieces I submit to editors, other are just for me. Many will remain unfinished. Writing is how I process life.The act is more important than the outcome.

Why did you write Talk Back to Me?

It started as a challenge through the 30-day Tiny Book Course. I figured I’d write 10 life tips for my kids, who were in their early teens and had no interest in their mom’s dumb life tips. Thirty days came and went and those 10 tips blossomed into a book of essays exploring the complexities of growing up. It’s still for them—and now also for you, thanks to the lovely team at One Idea Press.

Do you actually let your kids talk back?

Yep! But with few guiding principles mentioned in the book. 

Are you available for interviews and podcasts?

Absolutely! Please contact me with some information about your publication or podcast and if it sounds like a good fit, we’ll go from there.