About me…

Writing and history have been ​lifelong passions. By her example, my mother instilled in me a love of books and learning. (Note to you parents out there: Read to your children!) In addition, our parents often took my siblings and me on road trips to various states throughout the country. Envision a 1960s station wagon with two smoking adults; our two brothers teasing and tormenting my sister and me; lousy air-conditioning; and baseball—always baseball—on the radio. In spite of the discomfort and chaos, I cherished those trips. Mom was determined we would see historic sights within and beyond Texas’ borders.

Even then, I knew I wanted to author novels some day; but I was always painfully aware that there was much ​I didn't know about the craft and the business of writing fiction. Here's how the stars have aligned to put me on the path toward authorship and publication.​

• Life experience: There is no substitute for the exposure to the emotional spectrum of a full and fascinating life. I'm a native Texan but have had the pleasure of living in Italy and Ecuador, two beautiful and diverse countries.

• Higher education: Even seemingly irrelevant courses contributed something toward the person I am today and to my aspiration of writing and publishing historical fiction.

• Career: A background in corporate writing has given me real-world experience in writing to purpose, audience, and schedule.

• Reading: A polished and prolific writer is first a discerning and avid reader. Mom taught me well.

• Story ideas: They're everywhere! The inspiration for the Bone Wars Trilogy was no more than an aside by a college professor many years ago, a brief remark that lit a fire in me.

• Learning the craft: The stars really did align for me when, by accident, luck or fate, I met the author who would become my writing coach. Maureen Stack Sappey has been my mentor and guiding light.

• Moral and financial support: The sources of these would be my husband, Al; our family; and a circle of wonderful, encouraging friends.