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| The cover of the book I wrote in second grade. |
I began writing memoirs in the second grade when I wrote A Book About Me.
At 8-years-old I liked watching Dukes of Hazard, roller-skating, biking and eating mustard. I declared myself a follower, because “you don’t have to worry about things. If (the leader) gives you something to do, do it. … You don’t need to be on top of the world.”
Life changed.
In high school, I was voted “most likely to succeed” and eyed an overseas journalism assignment. While earning my journalism degree from The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, I studied the Italian language in Florence, Italy.
When I said, “Ciao!” to the college life I traded dreams of exotic assignments for a reporter’s job at a community weekly newspaper. After several years, I took an editor’s position. I earned awards in hard news reporting, personal column and editorial writing. I also was editor of a winning Georgia Freedom of Information Award entry.
I learned about the importance of being involved in one’s community through my newspaper work and graduated from three leadership programs. For two decades I connected with people as a journalist and shared their stories.
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| One of my favorite pictures of Jimmy and my niece Rosa, who always visited Jimmy at the nursing home. |
My memoir-in-progress or MIP focuses on my life as a caregiver and spouse following my late-husband Jimmy’s brain stem stroke. I also write personal essays and fiction including picture books.
I earned the second place award in the Memoir Book category for In a Blink in the SouthWest Writers 2009 contest. In 2011, an essay about my dog Eddie was among 101 stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Dog’s Life.
I am a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Pikes Peak Writers. And, hate to miss any Springs Writers meetings.
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| I may look like a tourist, but boy was I comfortable during my entire African trip. |
While I never became a foreign correspondent, I’ve traveled across Italy, Africa and the United States in search of personal adventures with shorter trips to London and Puerto Rico. I also made day trips to Mexico for lunch several times while living on the Texas-Mexico border.
My life titles have included cake decorator, journalist, wife, caregiver, domestic violence victim advocate, substitute teacher, RV clerk, writer and Mom. I still can’t make roses from frosting, but continue to eat mustard.
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado with my hubby, son and two dogs.
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