I began writing fiction as a young stay-at-home mom using an old Underwood manual typewriter 30 years ago. Since then, I worked as an editorial assistant with the Courier-Post, a major newspaper in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area. I eventually transitioned into writing. For fifteen years, I wrote about the people in my community. I loved it. Yet, in my spare time, I found that I enjoyed writing about fictional characters, too. 

I was lucky to find an editor who took my love of writing as a sign that I could produce copy good enough for a major newspaper. Laurie Stuart helped me hone my skill and build my confidence. On-the-job training is the best possible way to learn this craft. At times, she pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of achieving. However, during the fifteen years I worked with the editors at the newspaper, I learned not only how to write, but how to produce a finished product. A deadline is a great mentor.