I have a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. I taught education and literature courses at the college level for several years. Major influences in my writing are varied. I grew up loving Beatrix Potter, and am heavily influenced now by Patricia MacLachlan and the extraordinary poet Mary Oliver. I also love Gary Paulsen's poetic stories for young people..  

I won fourth place in the 76th Annual Writers' Digest Writing Competition in their children's fiction category.