“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 NIV
A Creative Life
Reading and writing are a part of my soul. One look at the yellowed pages of my memory box will reveal words and creativity have sought expression from the moment I held a crayon.
Initially, I read and wrote to escape our family challenges and struggles. If those characters could endure dangerous adventures and hair-raising rescues, I could survive another day. My source of escape grew into a secret passion as I delved into history and crafted my owns stories of hope through danger.
Even after I married and had two wonderful boys, stories flowed from my fingertips. Writing remained my sanity, but more than that, it became the tool through which God taught and spoke to me. The stories came through my fingertips, but they were marked with His fingerprints.
I never dreamed it would lead to something more.
Answering the Call to Write
In June 2015, my husband treated me to a writer’s conference. I was excited to improve my writing, but I never had any intention beyond personal gratification. God’s plan ended up being slightly bigger.
From the very first moment of the conference, God made it clear I needed to pursue writing as a career. Over and over He put publishing in my face. All the classes except publishing topics were canceled. I did not jump up and down in excitement for this call. Hope-filled terror made me question, God would You really use something so important to me to serve You?
Yes, and He continues to prove faithful in my writing. Although not easy, I obediently write. My stories are still filled with danger, struggle, and history, but they are also permeated with the hope and love of Christ. I hope they are dangerously good. Good for the heart and for the soul.
Awards:
2018:
Fabulous Five Wisconsin RWA Award – Counterfeit Love (pre-published)
2019:
Crown Award Finalist – ACFW Virginia – Counterfeit Love (pre-published)
Golden Heart Finalist – RWA – Counterfeit Love (pre-published)
2023:
Carol Award Finalist – Counterfeit Love – ACFW (Debut Book category)
The Quick Favorites:
MOVIES: North and South (BBC), Now You See Me, Mulan (cartoon version), Brave, You’ve Got Mail, Lord of the Rings: Two Towers & Return of the King, Pride and Prejudice (BBC)
BOOKS: A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano, The Noble Guardian & Man of Shadow and Mist by Michelle Griep, Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson, The White City by Grace Hitchcock, The Debutante’s Code by Erica Vetsch
TV SHOWS: Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Hogan’s Heroes, Diagnosis Murder, Murder She Wrote
MUSIC: Wonder Woman Soundtrack, Dream Cave, Rend Collective
SODA: Ice Cold Ale-8-One, Stewart’s Orange Cream Soda, Henry Weinhard’s Rootbeer
FOOD: Dark Chocolate, Eggplant parmigiana, Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, Shrimp and Grits
FAVORITE PEOPLE:
My family: Ramey, Matt, Nehemiah, Dad, Mom, Linda, Travis, and Malaki.
QUICK BIO:
GREW UP: Georgetown, KY (Horse Farm Central)
COLLEGE: M.A. of Elementary Education, University of the Cumberlands
FAVORITE JOB: Working under the table at the Kentucky Horse Park, which mostly consisted of mucking stables, but I met my sweet Romeo there–an old strawberry roan who never stepped on my toes.
HOBBIES: Board Games with the family, traveling, High Tea
COLLECTS: Corny Jokes, Loose Leaf Tea, Tea Pots, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Baby Yodas (Grogu)
FUN FACT: Each family member has a personality just like the turtles. My husband matches Donatello, my oldest son is Raphael, the youngest is Leonardo, and I’m the goofy Michelangelo.
FUN FACT #2: I’ve traveled to al 48 contiguous United States, all that remain are Alaska and Hawaii.
*I am also a member of FHL (Faith, Hope, and Love) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).*