I was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and grew up playing on the shores of Lake Superior, enjoying pasties that my grandmother made from scratch, and loving small town parades and snowy Christmases.
 
For as long as I can remember, I have loved talking, writing, and reading. I think it stemmed from a mother who was an English major and a grandmother who read to me every chance she got. My family was often the “fortunate” recipients of my original poetry and short stories that I wrote incessantly, and they became my biggest supporters as I competed in a wide array of public speaking events.

Not long after Jesus came into my life, I worked for years as a feature reporter for a small-town newspaper. I covered everything from a Presidential visit to my little, patriotic town to World War II stories told from the perspective of veterans who had so bravely served.