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 share that magic with college students across all majors, teaching them how to communicate clearly and confidently in writing.

When I’m not writing or teaching, I’m usually outside with a mug of tea and a camera, photographing the garden critters and blooms while our golden retriever insists on one more round of fetch.

STUDIES IN STORYTELLING

I was honored to be 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 recently completed a certificate in Narrative and Creative Writing for Nonfiction through Cornell University–work that continues to shape my approach to story.

IN MAGAZINES, MEDIA, AND MORE

My essays have appeared in Coping Magazine, Business Insider, HuffPost, and other outlets, like Elephants and Tea. You can read them here.

CURRENT PROJECTS

I write across genres, following the small, ordinary moments that quietly shape who we are.

Memoir

At nineteen, my world broke in two. As illness collided with first love, I refused to be cast as “that cancer girl” and began rewriting myself. For decades, I rarely spoke of that winter—or the love that carried me through it. To tell this story, I return to the girl I once tried to outrun, and reckon with how that love shaped everything that came after.

Picture Books

I have several completed picture book manuscripts that emphasize heart, humor, and the sparkle in the small things. Drawing on my experiences as a naturalist and a mother of four with a menagerie of pets underfoot, I craft stories that celebrate everyday wonder, exploring family, nature, and the playful details of childhood.

Nature Writing

I’m a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) and a nature writing enthusiast who believes we don’t just observe nature—we are part of it. Through my photography and writing, I’m drawn to moments of stillness, resilience, and connection.

FROM SURVIVORSHIP TO STUDENT VOICES

Having survived melanoma as a teenager, I’m committed to promoting cancer awareness and healthy habits among young people as a member of the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation Speakers Bureau. I also advise the campus chapter of the Oncology Society.

NATIONAL PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY

My sister suggested I enter the Most Magical Gathering Contest, and to my delight, my essay, “Magic in Everyday Moments,” was selected as the Grand Prize Winner. Competing against tens of thousands of entries, the experience was thrilling and unforgettable, and it reinforced my love for finding wonder in everyday life.

ISABELLA HAD A FARM, E-I-E-I-O

I was thrilled to participate in the Bellport Children’s Festival, volunteering at the annual children’s literature festival on Mama Farm. The day was filled with whimsy, laughter, and the kind of joy that reminds me why I write for young readers, too.