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.

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

Memoir

At nineteen, my world broke in two. As illness collided with first love, I refused to be cast as “the 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, I craft stories that celebrate everyday wonder, exploring family, nature, and the playful details of childhood.

FROM SURVIVORSHIP TO STUDENT VOICES

As a long-term melanoma survivor and member of the 2026 National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation Speakers Bureau, promoting cancer awareness and healthy habits among young people is important to me. I serve as faculty advisor to the campus chapter of the Oncology Society.

NATIONAL PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY

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

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

As soon as I found out about the Bellport Children’s Festival, I was excited to be part of it. I volunteered at the annual children’s literature festival on Mama Farm, and it was nothing short of incredible.