I was raised at Oxford Orphanage, now called The Masonic Home for Children, in Oxford, North Carolina.  This is still my home and all the students who were there are my brothers and sisters.  I spent twelve years there and am happy to call this place home.

During my childhood I read probably all the books in the library at the orphanage.  I do not have anyone who was a major influence on my writing ability.  It comes to me naturally.  We did not have writing classes at the orphanage school so I did not get the chance to see what I could accomplish as a child.  I graduated from high school and then left to make my mark in the big, wide world. 

I had planned to attend nurses training in Kannapolis, NC with the help of my grandfather but later learned that was not so.  I was told to work for one year and save my money to get my nurses' degree.  So I went to work in Raleigh, NC doing secretary work. 

I met my husband and we dated for over a year and the education went nowhere.  Falling in love was more important to me at that time and I did not want to leave for Kannapolis.  I married my husband, Donald, in 1957 and as of now we have been married for 51 years.  He is the love of my life and we have three wonderful children, two girls and one boy, who are very dear to me.  I was a stay at home mom and went to work when my youngest daughter was in middle school.  They have given me six beautiful grandchildren and four step grandchildren who are very special to me.

Writing became important to me after I got my first computer.  Of course I was working at the time so I would stay up at night writing and then sleeping little before going to work.  I retired from Air Products and Chemicals in 1997 and that is when I really started writing seriously. 

Retirement is great for me because we moved to Southport, NC where I helped to raise my two granddaughters while their mother taught  school and daddy worked as a technical engineer.  After moving into my new home and getting one grandchild in school, I then babysat my youngest grandchild until she went to preschool.  I do pick both girls up from school each day and they stay with me until their mom is able to pick them up.  My oldest granddaughter wants to become a writer after watching me edit my book.

I picked up my book again after my youngest grandchild went to preschool and was determined to finish it, which I did and then I tried to find an agent to work with me with no success.  Then I started looking for publishers and decided on Xlibris because of a friend who uses them to publish six novels.   I  published my first mystery novel, "Grains of Sand", in August of 2007. 

I am now having book signings at the different book stores in the area.  Hopefully I can get Barnes and Nobles to put my book on the shelves for others to see and buy.  I am in the process of trying to work something out now.

I'm having my second book, Branches of Life, edited now.   It should be ready soon to be published.  This book deals with drug lords and a young lady who is trying to make it in the clothing design world, which takes place in Raleigh, North Carolina.  I hope this book will go far since I have learned so much about the publishing industry and how it works.  The time I have spent trying to sell my book has been a big help to me.  The first book is really a learning tool that I have found very useful.

I am now working on my third mystery which should be through within the year.  Writing is a hobby that I enjoy very much.  I use a tape recorder to remember things I want to write about.  It has been very helpful because I was waking up during the night and having to write things down and then not go back to sleep.  The most enjoyable time for me to write is in the wee hours of the morning.  At that time I am not interrupted  by the phone  or  doorbell ringing.  I love the quietness of the room with my fingers typing away the thoughts going through by head to be used in my next book.