Look and Listen

Biography

Frequently appearing before parents and teachers, students, mental health consumers and community groups, I rely not only on personal experience and a positive attitude, but also on current research, facts and proven strategies to encourage those affected by mental illness and to eradicate the stigma that surrounds diseases of the brain. I am a member of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Mental Health America. Born and raised in southern California, I graduated magna cum laude from the University of La Verne. After teaching elementary school, coordinating special programs, and training fellow teachers and classroom aides for over a dozen years, I began my writing career. As a columnist for Southern Progress Corporation, a subsidiary of Time-Warner, I wrote dozens of magazine articles, then added two regional gardening books to my list of achievements before switching gears to write, speak, and advocate on topics related to bipolar disorder, depression, and mental health.

Inspiration

I write. Always have. The written word, writing words, is my processor for life and its fascination, confusion, frustration, elation and other inherent wonders. I have to write it out. It's what I do. Sharing my writing with others was the skill-set I had to learn; and my infatuation with the well-written tale was my inspiration. My writing philosophy is simple: Words are powerful and precious. If you want to tell a story, you'd better tell it well.