I like to say I was born in the City of Angels, raised on Walt Disney, and inspired by the dreams of both. It seems like I should add something about being conceived in San Francisco, but that doesn’t sound as poetic. My agent said I had a “poetic and lyrical” writing style, and I will always be thankful to her for saying that. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Growing up near Disneyland, the beach, and Hollywood, I loved to sing and read and I remember being torn between wanting to be a singer and a writer with fantasies of Hollywood calling, believing that anything was possible. When I wasn’t plugged into my transistor radio, I spent a lot of time at the public library where I’d get the latest Nancy Drew. While I often entertained others with my verbal stories and musicals dancing in my head, I also tried writing them down on paper, folding and stapling them into little books. This led to a behind-the-scenes career in publishing. Later, I discovered I came from a musical family – no wonder music inspires my writing.

Ironically, I found my way back to the land of my conception in San Francisco and became a technical writer. And that’s when I realized two things: I needed a creative outlet, and I needed to find my father.

Fast forward to 2002: I enrolled in Jerry Cleaver’s workshop “The Loft” of Chicago fame (an experience I share with one of my favorite authors, Laura Caldwell), and I met my father for the first time. I then wrote my first novel and eventually published my personal story in Myths of the Fatherless (now retired to focus on fiction). I also started blogging but don’t look for the old blogs and/or posts – I continually clean out old blogs – who needs old news?

Throughout this journey we moved from California to Oregon to Florida to Las Vegas. I kept writing and submitting. So when an agent fell in love with my third novel, Real Women Wear Red, offered representation, but the book didn’t sell to a major publisher. I turned down small publishers and decided to publish it myself. It was a fabulous experience and I learned a lot from it, but it also propelled me to keep seeking a  large, traditional publisher for my next book. “Keep seeking and you will find.” – Luke 11:9.

In the meantime, I keep writing – women’s fiction, chick lit, romance, suspense, children’s books and young adult novels. Who knows where this crazy journey will lead?

I live with my very supportive husband and our three furry kids, juggle my fiction writing with other writing projects, and visit my favorite places in California every chance I get.

*** Dedicated to Rev. Freda Walker Holmes, 1915-2000, my inspiration for never giving up, in spite of age or the “naysayers.”