I have been writing for over 20 years as a free lance author covering topics as diverse as academics, the environment, web design, writing, and most recently, healthcare, particularly issues relating to women and heart health. That topic evolved from my experiece of a serious heart attack at the age of 51, and a number of other health issues relating to that medical event, including the completely seperate issue of ulcertive colitis. I've written a number of articles (available on my web site) offering information on these health issues.. In 2003, I published my first first book, Hollywood and Catholic Women: Virgins, Whores, Mothers and Other Images. The work evolved out of my Masters Thesis which explored the image of Catholic women as portrayed in within 16 Hollywood films. After the University of South Carolina used Hollywood and Catholic Women in 2007, I decided to update the text. I've added three new films (The Godfather Part III, Dead Man Walking, and Doubt) as well as two cable series: The Sopranos and Saving Grace. I have found that the image of Catholic women has improved, particularly on cable. The 2nd edition of "Hollywood and Catholic Women" is at the publishers and should be released by Christmas 2011.

Graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1980 and California State University - Fresno in 1992 with an MA in Mass Communications. In 2005 I returned to school for an AA degree is graphic design. I graduated from the Paralegal Certificate Program at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN in the Summer of 2010. I'm hopeful this will be my last academic experience, as four degrees should be enough for anybody!