About Me
I’ve always loved learning about the lives behind the books I read, so I thought I’d share a little about myself with you.
I was born and raised in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of western New York—yes, there’s so much more to New York than just the city! I grew up in the small town of Pulteney, spent most of my school years in Prattsburgh, and usually told people I lived in Branchport, thanks to our mailing address. My childhood was rooted in rural life on a dairy farm with my four siblings—Jeff, Valerie, Rodney, and Mark. With both sets of grandparents close by and a big extended family nearby, I developed the strong sense of connection and community that continues to influence the relationships in my stories.
After earning my Bachelor of Arts degree from Keuka College in 1983, I married my husband, Jim, a Connecticut native, and moved to New England, where I taught sixth grade English in Glastonbury, CT for 26 years. I later earned my Master’s in Education from the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!). We’re incredibly proud of our four adult children: Carrie Beth, a speech-language pathologist; her husband Nate, a forensic accountant; our son Nick, a web developer (yes, he built this website!); and Nick’s wife Amy, a customer success manager in tech. They also have a lovable dog named Charlie, who helped inspire the main character in my Chance series of children’s books. One of my greatest joys is being “Grams” to our granddaughter, Savannah, who brings so much love and laughter into our lives.
In 2011, Jim and I followed our hearts back to the Finger Lakes and now live on a peaceful 33-acre property that feels like home in every sense. We share our space with two horses—Sasha and Lacey—and four cats, each with their own backstory, personality, and plenty of charm. This farm life and the beauty of the region continue to inspire the settings and spirit of my books.
In addition to writing novels, I’m a freelance writer with articles published in Country, Country Extra, and Farm and Ranch magazines. I also work in alumni relations at my alma mater, Keuka College, and do freelance writing for Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, which allows me to share the wonder of this region with readers and travelers from all over the world.
I’ve been writing since I was young—mostly horse stories back then—and I still have many of those early works tucked away. With every book, class, conference, and conversation, I continue to grow as a writer. I believe there’s always more to learn, and I’m happily committed to this creative journey—one story at a time.