I started writing when I was in 5th grade and passed my chapters around to my friends at slumber parties. That became the first book I ever wrote, The Mystery of 1313. I always added a hook at the end so I would get invited to the next slumber party. Of course, now I don’t remember what that mystery was, but I still love to write suspense and romance. My first published book, Friends Forever, is full of both. It was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl fiction award in 2017.
Besides writing I love to read. Right now I am reading tons of WW11 books because my next project is a historical fiction based on the life of Irena McCary who grew up in Germany during the war. The title is Displace, A Child Without a Country, and I hope to have the book finished by the end of 2021.
Since I love to read and write, I started a book club where I live at Oak Terrace Resorts near Pana. We meet once a month and are always looking for suggestions of great books, so if you have a few favorites send them my way.
I play golf, mainly so my husband can have a partner when he needs to play in a couples outing. I do enjoy playing with other women for nine holes. After nine holes, I am ready to get back to work on my book or curl up and read.
In the winter (Jan-the middle of March) I become a snowbird and head south to Gulf Shores, Alabama. I love that area! The beaches are so white, the weather is warm, and the Southern cooking is delicious.
I love to travel and if you read Friend’s Together you will learn about a few of the places that I have been to in Japan. I have a Japanese sister-in-law and she made me curious about the Japanese culture. Sometime she says I am more Japanese than some of her friends. What a great compliment.
Family and religion are important to me, so that’s why they are important to my main characters. I have two children, Nelson and Missy. Missy is adopted and that is an amazing story. What a gift. I have four grandchildren – Hali, Hayden, Payton, and Madison. We lost Hayden in 2019 but I still think of him everyday.
After I finish the historical fiction, I will be back to complete the Hickory Hills series.