Look and Listen

Biography

For as long as I can remember, I have been a word witch. I love to read, and I love to write. I do both with equal passion. Growing up in an era where it wasn't considered practical to try to make a living as a writer, I graduated from college with a degree in psychology, then attended graduate school with the intent on becoming a psychiatric social worker. My plans came to a screeching halt on July 11, 1989, when a bolt of lightning struck me in the neck, causing massive damage to my heart, nervous system, joints, and ears. My life lay in a precarious balance for several years as I suffered repeated bouts of pericarditis--a life-threatening inflammation of the protective sac around the heart--and underwent countless surgeries. It was during my lengthy recovery that I began to write professionally. After all, while my body was broken, my mind was as sharp as ever. Writing gave me purpose, something meaningful and creative to do between hospitalizations and doctor appointments. I spent the next thirteen years working as a freelance journalist, writing for several newspapers and for magazines such as Chicago Parent, Springfield Parent, Illinois Parks and Recreation, Outdoor Illinois, Natural Health, First for Women, and Mature Outlook. I wrote on a variety of subjects, but my passion was writing about environmental issues and the natural world. My newspaper column, "Earth Beat," ran in several Illinois newspapers over a five-year period. After thirteen years, though, I got tired of writing features. I wanted to write what I wanted to write, not what some editor, somewhere, was asking me to write. So, I started writing short stories and poetry. My short stories have appeared in literary journals such as Potpourri and CALYX; my poetry in We'Moon '03, Pan Gaia, and SageWoman magazines. My short story, The Last Flight Home, even got nominated for the 2003 Pushcart Prize, one of the most honored literary prizes in America. But like I said before: I am a devout word witch, and my life-long dream was to write a novel. Thus, Redeeming Grace was born. The story is set on the eastern shore of Maryland, one of the places my family often visited when I was a child. In the book I get all my frustrations about patriarchal religion out of my system, which allowed me to the write The Cabin, an historical fantasy filled with good old-fashioned magic. My latest project: My book, Front-Word, Back-Word, Insight Out: Lessons on Writing the Novel Lurking Inside You From Start to Finish was just published. Based on my many years teaching writing workshops at venues throughout the Midwest, this book is a complete writing workshop in a book.

Inspiration

Like most writers, I draw a lot of inspiration from reading wonderful novels by other authors. Favorite books I've read the past year include Margaret George's Helen of Troy; The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow, The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood; and Pope Joan by Diana Woolfolk Cross.