I began writing at age 10 while up a mulberry tree hiding from chores. A career in the business world, raising two children, and volunteering in my church  kept the output at a minimum. Then came retirement and all the chains were thrown off. Hubby is very supportive of my writing and his love of travel has given me the opportunity to add to the muse. I was influenced by wonderful teachers, Ms. Bourgeous and Ms. Lund who gave me an excellent background in the literary world, and were the first to say to me, "You are a writer!" Those first short story and essay wins set me on the path I have followed for years. Though I live in Southern California now, my heart and writing voice is Southern. My stories and books reflect this background, or so I have been told. Recently, my poetry has been winning regional honors and that has rather stunned me. Currently, I am teaching creative writing to seniors in a senior center, and memoir writing by contract to a retirement facility. My rewards are the smiles on faces when they share their writing, and the first-time published. I am blessed.

I have written four books, been published over 300 times (articles, poetry, short stories), and have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. I am certified to teach creative writing to seniors in my county. I am a member of the Poets Inc Board locally, the Word Weavers, several critique groups, and have started several continuing writers groups locally. I below to AWP, American Poets, Society, and the Rockford Writers Guild.