I received my Master of Arts in English from San Diego State University in 2006. In 2017, I received an Honorable Mention from the L. Ron Hubbard Writer’s of the Future contest for my short story, “The Wall.”
I enjoy writing Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Urban Fantasy for Young Adult and Adult. I even dabble with children’s Picture Books when I can. Although I have been writing for years, I am only now starting to publish my work.
Like many writers, I’ve been dreaming up stories all my life. For as far back as I can remember, every night before I drifted off to sleep, I would work on my stories. It was like watching a movie in my head with a new piece each night. Not all the stories were great or deserved to be put to paper, but I still worked on them every day.
As I got older, I started writing some of my stories down and realized I had a lot to learn about crafting stories to make them the best they could be. So I learned and continued writing my stories over the years.
But, life has a way of distracting us. My first distraction came in the form of my darling military husband who was always moving us about for his job. Later, it came in the form of my wonderful twin boys. My boys have been a source of joy for me and have taught me so much about life and myself. One of the most important lessons I learned was to let go of perfectionism. Whether it was keeping my house immaculate or perfecting my writing, I learned that I need to let things go. As you can imagine, those first few years were hectic and crazy. Now that my boys have reached Kindergarten, I have more time to do things. And more importantly, the stories that I left on hold while raising two active and curious little boys began letting me know that they were still there and they still wanted to be written. And then they got insistent about it.
I don’t know if you ever heard writers say that their stories talk to them and clamor for attention, but they really do. My characters tend to be vocal about themselves and their adventures. Sometimes they squabble amongst themselves about who gets to be written next, much like children fighting over a toy. It can be hard to get them to behave and fall in line so I can write them. And, as I am trying to get one done, more seem to be lining up behind the ones already waiting for their turn. Some of my stories have been patiently sitting on the sidelines, waiting for me to have the skill to be able to do them justice. Others, stomp right up and demand attention immediately, regardless of what I’m doing. My stories are as unruly and childlike as my boys and I love them for it.
After all these years of dreaming up stories in my head and scribbling them down in my journal when I have a moment to breathe, I have decided it’s time to start letting my stories go out in the world. I look at it as training for when my boys grow up. Letting them go out in the world is scary and I sit before my computer, wringing my hands, wondering if I’m doing the right thing. But I’ve done what I could to prepare them to meet the world. Stories are meant to be shared. People may like them or not, but I hope they find a place in someone else’s heart like the place they have in mine. Enjoy!