About Me

In no particular order!
As Writer

As my totes full of notebooks suggest, I’ve been writing since I was a child. I was an Army Brat, and also a shy kid, so I read and wrote a lot.
When I was in college, writing became more of a chore, a necessity to succeed in my classes. It wasn’t until I had my first child that I came back to my passion for writing. My son and I had almost lost our lives, and writing helped me work through the trauma associated with that experience.
Once I started writing again, I couldn’t stop. I often have to get out of bed in the middle of the night to write down a random thought that later turns into a story, or an outline for a book I’m thinking of finishing. I don’t sleep until whatever it is on my mind is written down.
I also found that I enjoyed writing children’s stories, and I became curious about how the publishing industry worked. Creating and submitting stories opened the gates in my brain to more stories, and now I find that I enjoy all different kinds of writing, including grants, children’s stories, magazine articles, poetry, and books of different genres.

Writing Specific Websites
As I delved further into the writing world, I deeply appreciated how generous writers were with information about the art and craft of writing as well as the nuts and bolts of getting published. These websites are a sampling where to find good information.
Writing for Children: SCBWI, Children’s Writer, Kid Magazine Writer, Verla Kay, Write 4 Kids
Freelance Writing: Funds For Writers, Worldwide Freelance Writer, Writers Weekly
List of Writing Credits: The Oregonian, Viatouch, ColumbiaKids, Stories for Children, and Simple Joy Magazine

My First Sale!

Inspiration

 

Snoopy decorates my office!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Mom 

To maintain some measure of privacy, I refer to my husband as “Reeds” (as in, part of Reeds and Keys), my oldest as “Pumpkin,” and my youngest as “Sly.” We have a 9 year-old black lab named Molly, and two 14 year-old cats named Pat and Smokey.

We are silly as a rule,

and we all love music.

 

As Couponer

The other day I spent $6 at a local drugstore for $25 worth of products. I also paid with a gift card, therefore I had to pay nothing out of pocket.
My first piece of advice: Don’t go anywhere without a coupon!
Or several coupons. My point is that it may take extra time and research, but that process is worth the money you’ll save on whatever you’d like to purchase.
I never go anywhere without my coupons. Finding, organizing and storing coupons are now a natural part of my weekly routine.
Find out more with my book, Live Cheap and Free! Strategies to Thrive in Touch Economic Times. There are methods to this madness!

As Teacher

Kids are so much fun! I taught elementary school kids for nine years, most of those years at the school pictured. Now I volunteer and occasionally I’m a substitute teacher at this school.

Book Suggestions

My particular favorites:
*A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
*Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
*Anything by Anne Lamott

My Favorites for 4th through 6th Graders:
*Judy Blume (start with Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing)
*Kate DiCamillo
*Alex Rider Adventures by Anthony Horowitz (start with Stormbreaker)
*Andrew Clements
*Lois Lowry (my favorite is The Giver)
*Gary Paulsen (my personal favorite is Hatchet)
*Sharon Creech (my favorite is Walk Two Moons )

Inspiration so I don’t give up: