ABOUT ME

Long before I started writing on a laptop, I was scribbling stories and poems anywhere I could. Words felt like magic to me. They still do.

These days, I write on whiteboards and in Google Docs, teaching college students across all majors how to communicate clearly and confidently in writing.

When I’m not writing or teaching, you can usually find me with a mug of tea in one hand or a camera in the other, out exploring the natural beauty that’s always inspired me.

STUDIES IN STORYTELLING

I was honored to be selected as a Fellow in the Children’s Literature Fellowship Program at the Lichtenstein Center, where I studied under the mentorship of Emma Walton Hamilton. I hold a BA in English and most recently completed a certificate in Narrative and Creative Writing for Nonfiction from Cornell University.

Writing across genres, my current focus is on narrative nonfiction and children’s literature. I actively engage with a variety of writing communities, conferences, and workshops.

IN MAGAZINES, MEDIA, AND MORE

My work has appeared in Coping Magazine, Business Insider, HuffPost, and other outlets, like Elephants and Tea.

ALWAYS WRITING

I have several completed picture book manuscripts that emphasize heart, humor, and the sparkle in the small things. My stories celebrate everyday wonder, often drawing on family, nature, and the playful details of childhood.

“I write to explore the joy tucked into everyday life—the mess, the beauty, and the moments where laughter lingers and something true takes hold.”

At nineteen, my world broke in two. I refused to stay cast as “the cancer girl” and began rewriting myself. For decades, I rarely spoke of my survival or the scars I carried, even as my first love weathered hospital stays, college years, and everything that came after. I tried to outrun the girl I was then – the one who didn’t yet understand fear or endurance or how fragile her own young body could be. But she’s where this story lives, and to tell it in my debut memoir, I must meet her again.

FROM SURVIVORSHIP TO STUDENT VOICES

As a long-term melanoma survivor, I promote cancer awareness and healthy habits among young people. I’m the faculty advisor to the campus chapter of the Oncology Society and support initiatives focused on early detection, treatment, and survivorship.

NATIONAL PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY

My sister told me about Visit Orlando’s Most Magical Gathering Contest and encouraged me to enter. The contest generated 52,000 entries, strong national publicity, and over 1 billion impressions. To my great delight, my essay entitled “Magic in Everyday Moments” was selected, and I became the Grand Prize Winner! 

ISABELLA ROSSELLINI HAD A FARM, E-I-E-I-0

I had the pleasure of meeting EV Starkey, children’s author and founder of the Bellport Children’s Festival. A short time later, I helped plan, set up, and volunteer at the annual festival of children’s literature on Isabella Rossellini’s (yes, that Isabella Rossellini!) Mama Farm. It was nothing short of incredible.