Stories are powerful, but only when they are shared. 

For many years, I didn't write because I was afraid that I wasn't very good.

And I was right. 

I sucked.

But I never wrote, so how could I be good at it?

So, I started writing. And I got better.

And then I would suck again. 

What I didn't understand at the time was that my brain had all the bad stuff on the surface...

...the cliches

...the empty-headed plotless stories

...the over-detailed and flowery language that went nowhere.

All this had to come out first before my brain got to the good stuff.

And the only way to hold myself accountable was to go to writing workshops.

Most of the time I didn't even want to go. 

Why would I listen to people critique my work? 

I already knew that I was quasi mediocre...on a good day. 

But there were moments when I was surprised by what I had written. 

And other times, I would camp by the vending machine, massaging my muffin top, wondering if we should just go home and binge on KFC and pastachio ice cream. 

But I kept at it. 

The writing, that is. 

And I am proud to say that in 2017, I was one of 12 finalists in the We Need Diverse Books picture book contest.

Plus, in 2020, I received the Peter K. Hixson Memorial Award for Poetry.   

I am a huge Willa Cather fan and visit Red Cloud, Nebraska every couple of years. I am also a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild. 

Right now, I'm learning Albanian.

It's a tough language.  And I've made many mistakes, some pretty embarrassing. 

I'll tell you about it sometime.

But, I'm really glad you're here.

Stay awhile.

I hope you find something you like. 

July 2018. Island off the coast of Helsinki. Heatwave. After one hour of walking, I said forget this. I'm just going to camp out on this spot.  But then I got a craving for ice cream and parked myself at the concession stand.