Look and Listen

Biography

Writer, poet, actress, singer in sign language. In a nutshell this is what I am. Who I am is another story. I grew up in Massachusetts and moved to Colorado in my early twenties. Life hasn't met me with open arms and I, like most artists, have struggled to succeed in my career. I have seen my other dreams and ambitions fall by the wayside and often wonder "what if". Still, despite the shortcomings and downfalls, I am an optimist, a pessimist, a thinker, a wonderer, a dreamer. I have a quirky sense of humour and a winning personality, but crowds and me don't go hand-in-hand; one-on-one conversation is more my style and many times I am quiet and reserved. Animals are a big part of my life, so say my cats (there's that humour), and at least one of them demanded I write a story about her. So I did. I began writing stories when I was in middle school in order to vent my anger and frustration at being picked on and teased. As my attitude and demeanour changed and as I grew up, my style of writing became a more constructive, rather than destructive avenue of creative output. I also began writing poetry and received a poet of merit award in 1989 from the American Poetry Association. To date I have five books published: two picture books and three young-adult books, along with some poetry in anthologies. Throughout the years I have also begun acting again, another life-long passion, but one I was never encouraged by my family to pursue. In my spare time I also sign to music and am a self-taught ASL signer. Other events in my life, relative to who I am today, are not appropriate to discuss. Nevertheless, these events have shaped me into a better person. They have made me stronger, gentler and more outspoken than I ever was before. Inspiration all around me keeps me writing, dreaming and centred.

Inspiration

Life is my biggest inspiration. Events and people in my life helped to shape the writer I have become, and have inspired me to take wings and fly. My dreams of becoming a traditionally-published author, of being independent and free from the chains of a regular job drive me to strive to be best I can be. Childhood memories, adulthood; memories and experiences both good and bad; a few celebrities I have met or known over the years, all of these compounds add up to create the whole. To create me.