About Me

Life in the Desert

My husband Jim and I call Gilbert, Arizona home, where we share our lives with our sweet dogs, Bella and Daisy. (Yes, they occasionally make cameo appearances in my social media posts!)

We're the couple you'll find exploring every corner of Arizona—from ghost towns to mountain peaks to hidden waterholes. These adventures aren't just for fun (though they absolutely are that!)—they often spark ideas for new settings and storylines. There's something magical about standing where my characters might have walked 150 years ago.

We're also deeply rooted in our faith community at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, where we've found our tribe and our calling to serve others.

historic Sam Hill hardware store, Prescott, AZ

Santa Fe, Prescott, & Phoenix Railroad historic bridge, Prescott, AZ

My Unexpected Writing Journey

Here's the truth: I never planned to become a novelist.

In 2010, life took an unexpected turn when I needed hand surgery. While recovering at home (with my dominant hand wrapped like a mummy), I found myself doing some serious soul-searching. I was in my mid-thirties, following a different path than many women my age, and while I loved my career and teaching Bible studies, something felt... incomplete.

So I did what any good Christian woman does when she's confused: I asked God directly, "What do You want me to do with my life?"

His answer came so quickly it startled me: "Write."

My response? I actually laughed out loud. Me? Write? I knew nothing about writing or publishing! I gave God my whole list of "But God, I can't because..." objections, just like Moses did with his burning bush moment.

But as the days passed (and my hand healed), an idea began forming. I'd always been fascinated by Arizona's territorial history, and I'd discovered a personal connection to Arizona's first territorial governor through my Ohio roots.

Once I could use my hand again, I wrote every spare moment I could find. A Dream Unfolding poured out of me—a story born from historical research and my own emotional journey through trials that mirrored my heroine Hannah's struggles.

Then came the second book. And the third. Before I knew it, I had three complete manuscripts and was learning about this thing called "self-publishing."

More than 30 novels later, I can honestly say that discovering I was created to be a writer was one of the most beautiful surprises of my life. Every story I write is proof that God's plans are so much bigger and better than our own.