MY STORY
One of my earliest memories was being tucked up against my father’s side at bedtime while he read to my two sisters and me from The Illustrated Treasury of Children’s Literature. The large, blue tome held over 500 glossy pages of poems, stories, and illustrations, ranging from Aesop’s Fables to Henny Penny to The Emperor’s New Clothes to my all time favorite, The Goops, by Gelett Burgess. I can still recite that poem by heart! My mother deepened my love for reading by regularly taking us to the library. We were there so often, the small town newspaper wrote a story about us! And so began my love of books.
I read to my three children when they were small and now I’m lucky enough to be reading to my six grandchildren! I sincerely believe there is no greater gift for a child than a good book and spending time reading to them!
My favorite place to be when not with family, is at the beach. I am a lover of all nature but specifically am drawn to the ocean and its creatures (maybe because I’m a Pisces). My husband can testify to my excitement when I spot a whale, see dolphins play in the surf, or stroke the silky back of a stingray. I am a collector of the exquisite gifts offered up by the waves. My home is filled with found treasures including sea shells, and sea glass, and heart rocks, and rocks pounded smooth by the surf. Some would say I also collect mermaids. Last count….25.
The silver lining of quarantine 2020 was the gift of extra time. I began the journey towards actualizing a long time dream of writing a children’s book. I started taking classes at Storyteller Academy and am now working on my 3rd manuscript. I find inspiration for my writing and illustrations in the world around me and from my six grandchildren with their unique personalities, fears, and foibles.