About Me
Every woman is strong in some way.
Often, she does not see herself in this capacity. She thinks she is plain, ordinary. She may feel overlooked and underappreciated. Or she is content because she might not know what possibly awaits on the other side of a door she’s been staring at for years. She might yearn for something she cannot name but is not sure of herself.
And why would she be sure? Subtle and not so subtle cultural, educational, and societal undercurrents undermine women’s confidence.
I feel fortunate to have been exposed to a different narrative growing up. I was led to believe I could do anything as long as I was willing to work hard. I credit my parents and grandparents for this wise counsel and later, a lengthy list of authors and female figures too numerous to mention here. Now I write historical fiction, stories about strong, audacious women. It's my way of saying thanks to those on whose shoulders my modern sisters and I stand.
My debut novel, Solitary Walker: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft, is a biographical novel about Wollstonecraft, the woman widely considered by historians to be the world's first feminist. I also write Herstory Revisited, a blog which reviews biographical fiction about amazing women from history. Who doesn’t love a good story with a strong female lead?
The decision to focus on historical fiction was an easy one for me. An avid reader since childhood, I especially gravitated toward stories from the past. Reading combined with the joy creative writing brings me, I have found my happy place.
I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and had the extraordinary privilege of teaching young children to read and write (and other things, of course) for nearly a decade. I later earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in educational leadership and served for more than twenty-five years in school leadership positions, including principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.
It would be easy to spend my whole day writing. But like you, I, too, must eat. I have a passion for cooking. Excellent wine makes this all the more pleasurable. Homemade bread and pasta are my specialties. After consuming all these carbs, I must exercise. Golf and walking are my go-to outlets, along with aerobic exercise when I force myself. Travel is yet another passion; I’ll go just about anywhere.
Rounding out my days and years are the wonderful men in my life. I have one son who is grown and lives in the Minneapolis area in my home state of Minnesota. My fix-anything husband and I live in South Carolina.
By the way, I love public speaking, especially when discussing Mary Wollstonecraft and other strong women from the past. Contact me, and let's talk about a date to speak to your group.