I have a few major influences in my life. #1 is my family. Ron and I have the greatest families. They are very supportive and if we need anything, they are always available. #2 is Adriana Trigiani is another person that I look up to. She is the author of "Big Stone Gap" and "Milk Glass Moon". She is from Big Stone Gap, Va. which is where I was born and also a neighbor to me now. I look up to Adriana becuz her accomplishments tell me that even tho I am from a small town, I can still shine. #3 is my friends. Through the years, we've married and multiplied, moved away and dropped out of contact with eachother. But still, when I need them, they are only a phone call away. I luv u all. I didn't publish my writing to be famous (Lord knows it probably won't take me anywhere) or for attention. I want to be an inspiration to other people, like my 2 girls, so that they know that no matter where you are from you can be heard.

I published three short stories. Next Time Around was published in 2001, What It Takes in 2002 and Barron's Inn in 2003. Please don't read them. They suck. They were thoughts and writing from my childhood crammed together and bound in a hurry to see them in print.