A little bit about me...
I was raised in the tiny village in Minnesota that was Garrison Keillor's model for Lake Wobegon, which means that, of course, my mother was strong, my father was good looking, and my brother and I were above average. It was idyllic in many ways and was quite a contrast to the city of St. Paul, where I then lived for 25 years. I moved to Bangor, Maine, in 2006 and in 2011 moved to Oneonta, NY. It's not quite as cozy as my hometown, but it's a friendly college town and I like it very much.
I love to travel, and so far I've been to 36 states, 9 countries and the Virgin Islands. Some of my favorite things are my family, my two cats, chocolate, painting, and eating food that I didn't have to prepare myself!
Career Experience
I have worked as an artist & illustrator, a writer & editor, a costume designer, a jewelry maker, a teacher, a book seller, a store manager, and a few other things, too. I have an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and a BA in Art from Macalester College. I have taught creative writing, composition and art classes at various colleges and centers in Minnesota and in Maine. I love being a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), where I can mingle with other writers and illustrators in the world of kid lit. I also frequently volunteer at art and literature events, such as the Bangor Book Festival and the Maine Discovery Museum Fundraiser. In December I was elected to the board of the Community Arts Council of Oneonta. It's a lot of work and a lot of fun!
In addition to my teaching and creative work, I was a children’s bookseller and assistant store manager for almost ten years. I worked at the The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, MN, from 2001 to 2006 and at The Briar Patch in Bangor from 2007 to 2011. I miss it and spend time at the local library to stay current.
My most recent painting exhibit was at the Bangor Art Society 2011 juried show, and you can read excerpts from recent publications on my writing page.
