About the Author
I grew up in Rockville, Maryland and earned a bachelors degree in psychology from Wake Forest University. For over a decade, I have been dedicated to working with children who have faced great adversity in their lives. I’ve worked as an elementary school teacher in low socioeconomic urban and rural schools. I’ve also been a children’s case manager for a mental health services company, a primary counselor in a detention facility for teenage boys, and a family services counselor for Child Protective Services working with the child victims of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. I currently work with at risk teens as a teacher in juvenile justice facilities.
I learn something from each and every child I meet as they allow me to share in their experiences. My history of working with troubled children has given me the unique opportunity to develop an understanding of the trials and tribulations many troubled children and teenagers encounter. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the children I work with are basically good kids that were hurt by harmful situations. Some of them have lived through experiences and seen things that no one should be exposed to at any age.
My students love reading books about kids who have also faced adversity growing up. They’ve inspired me to write novels that explore issues relevant to teenagers and parents of teens. My novels are based on the real life situations children and teenagers face. They bring to light crucial issues such as drug and alcohol use, relationship problems with parents, boyfriends, and girlfriends, date rape, teen pregnancy, parental neglect, and self harming behaviors.
I live in Navarre, Florida, “America’s Best Kept Secret”. When I’m not grading papers, working on lesson plans, or working on my next novel, you’ll find me hanging out, fishing, and enjoying the laid back atmosphere on Northwest Florida’s beautiful beaches.