imagine.

As a young child, I remember sneaking into my mother’s bedroom and going into her dresser. While she napped, I played with her blue and yellow and pink scarves, transforming into a pirate, a wild horse, an evil witch, or a queen. Sometimes all four in the same afternoon. The truth is my parents are to blame for my curiosity, creativity, and independence. They encouraged me to read, draw, and go outside to play.

When I was little, my father often let me crawl up into his lap, and together we would read the Sunday comics. When we were old enough to read, my mother would take my siblings and me to the public library, often every week. Mrs. Chapman was always ready with a stack of books for each of us. 

create.

One of my earliest art exhibits involved a rather large black crayon drawing on the wall behind our sofa. I received a less than enthusiastic critique from my mother when she discovered it. Six years old and undeterred, I told anyone who would listen that I was going to be an author and an illustrator when I grew up (or a jockey).

Somewhere between books and boys and babysitting, I grew up. Too tall to be a jockey, I went off to college where there were more books and boys and beer. (I like alliteration.) I married one of those boys. Together we bought a house and had two great kids, but I still wanted to write and illustrate.

connect.

In 2001, I joined SCBWI and started attending workshops and conferences. I worked on my writing and illustrating, and that made me happy. But I wanted more.

My opportunity came when, after losing my job, I secretly applied to graduate school at Hamline University. To my surprise, they accepted me. After admitting what I had done to my husband, I went on to receive my MFA in creative writing for children and young adults.

Today when I’m not using words and images to help businesses tell their stories, I head down to my studio, most likely in my jammies, and work on stories for children and young adults.