About Me

I am a writer from Arizona whose essays and poems have recently appeared in various online and print literary journals.  My background in music and painting, along with my faith, are major influences in my writing.  Lately, I have been writing about health and illness, ability and disability, especially about my mother who had Alzheimer's dementia, as well as my own lifelong challenges with rheumatoid arthritis. My goal is to use language to inform what goes on in our bodies and minds and try to find inspiration in the midst of loss.  Besides writing and publishing personal essays, I am also working on a novel.

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I graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in art history and a master's degree in liberal studies, with a focus on creative nonfiction writing.  I am active in the Phoenix area literary community and have been invited to read from my work at various events.  In 2011, I co-founded a writing group, which is still going strong, despite changed membership.  It is one of my joys to be able to help other writers and learn from them as well.   I've had the great honor of studying with Gretel Erlich and Bernard Cooper on separate occasions in creative nonfiction master classes.  I have also served a a reviewer for independent literary journals.

 

I currently work at Arizona State University where I manage the English graduate programs and also write for various ASU publications.  My other passions include playing piano, traveling the world, studying languages, and  baking.  I am an avid collector of cookbooks and chip 'n dips.  But, my favorite way to spend time is marveling at the beautiful Arizona sunsets with my husband. 

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