About the Author
I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.
--Steve Martin
Awards and Recognition
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My parents met at a college debate meet. My husband and I met at a college debate meet. This usually generates interesting reactions when we’re introduced to others, and is responsible for well-organized, civilized differences of opinion at home. I’ve spent most of my life in the western United States, and Logan, Utah has been my home for the past thirty years. My husband is an attorney. We have three sons, all in college, and two dogs, who aren’t.
A loyal Aggie, I’m a graduate (B.S.) of Utah State University with a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Northwestern University. As a Speech-Language Pathologist I have worked for school districts, USU’s Department of Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, and USU’s Center for Persons with Disabilities.
I’ve always enjoyed writing. About eight years ago I realized I’d neglected my creative side due to the demands of the technical, clinical writing that’s part of being a Speech-Language Pathologist, supervisor, and teacher. I read an announcement in the paper for a meeting of the Cache Valley Chapter of the League of Utah Writers. When I found the courage to attend and introduced myself, someone asked, "What’s your genre?" and I almost retorted that my personal life was none of his business.
I didn’t have a genre then and I still don’t. I enjoy writing essays (serious and humorous), short stories, and the occasional poem. My first novel, Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys, will be published by Cedar Fort, Inc. in the Fall of 2007. The first chapter is posted here. I’m working on the sequel, Zina.
Seven years years ago Shaunda Wenger joined the league and proposed a collaborative effort to create a literary cookbook. Published by Ballantine in the Fall of 2003, The Book Lover’s Cookbook invites you to cook with your favorite authors and characters. We have had many opportunities to present to local book clubs and other groups.
I like to travel, take photographs, and attend the theater. One highlight was seeing "My Fair Lady" in London with Anthony Andrews as Henry Higgins, an absolute delight. When I got home, I had to watch the PBS series "Brideshead Revisited" because it was filmed at Oxford University, which we visited, and it features Anthony Andrews as Sebastian.
Other recent projects include teaching an occasional poetry class to county jail inmates and becoming a tutor for Bridgerland Literacy. I’m also on the executive board and a contributing writer at latterdayauthors.com, and a member of LDStorymakers. Recently I have joined Author’s Guild.
Thanks to Mom and Dad for some lively debates and passing on their love of the written word. Thanks to my writing group for supporting my efforts, my sisters for their insight and friendship, my husband for putting up with me, and to my children for growing up.
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