My upbringing on the Island of Kingston, Jamaica, where I was born, was my major influence. The lilting accent and the spicy foods are a big part of my daily life. My parents were a great influence also. My mom's christian guidance and my dad's business instincts and entrepreneurial spirit helped to hone the person that I am today. Moving from Jamaica to New York with my family was a culture shock. I adjusted well to the fast pace. On arrival at the airport at night I found New York City to be inviting with it's bright, shiny lights and exciting, loud Latin music. The day after my arrival in New York City, I awoke the next morning and found a stark contrast in the dark colored, shabby high rise buildings and the somewhat efficient, rat infested subways. I would say my move to New York City was a big influence.  So much so, that having moved from NYC to a southern state of the U.S. for over 17 years, it is hard to resist the magic of NYC. As a young girl, I fell in love with books. I read everything I could get my hands on; "Puss in Boots", comic books, my older brothers' Mills and Boones love novels, and adventure books such as the "Bobsy Twins".  I was gifted a book for Christmas, and became enthralled with the Pictures on the front page, the smell of the new book, and the stories they offered.  I became a vociferous reader. Recently, though, I have been reading self-help books. Since my early twenties, my interest in reading led me to write several poems. As a mental health counselor, one of my responsibilities was writing reports about my visits to consumer's homes. I also find the writing style of Southern writers to be very interesting. I yearn to achieve that skill. I would like to use similes such as; "he is as happy as a pig in mud".  I find the Southern writing style to be picturesque and I would like to be picturesque also. I am now retired and frequently enjoy writing. I hope to complete my first book within the year 2013.

I attended UNCC and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. I remember being praised for several writing assignments while at UNCC.