BIO

I started writing stories and poems as soon as I knew how to write. I would spend hours at my little desk in my upstairs bedroom making up tales about whatever crossed my mind. My mom and my grandmother both taught me to love reading. I read Little House in the Big Woods for the first time when I was eight years old. I knew that the Laura in the story had written the book, and I decided I wanted to write my own books. 

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Rush to the Heartland began with my fascination with Oklahoma history. I moved to Oklahoma when I was thirteen, and learned of the Land Run. I started researching it after I finished my master's degree in 1996 and missed writing at night (yes, I missed homework!). I knew I wanted to write a book where my characters met real historical figures like Isaac Parker and Carrie A. Nation. 

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The book evolved over time; lots of time. I did research in Guthrie, Oklahoma and Fort Smith, Arkansas. I sent off one proposal early in the process and was rejected. I had a few chapters and a rough outline. Meanwhile I became a mother and there was no time to write. Fast forward to 2012. My children were busy and I decided to finish the story. I gave it to a friend to read who made a few suggestions. I edited it and added her suggestions. 

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Then I started the biggest writing project of my life: my doctoral dissertation, from 2012 to 2018. That being finished, one of my daughters, now a graduate with a mass comm degree said, "Get out your book and let me edit it." So I did. She went over it with a fine tooth comb and encouraged me to send it to a publisher. 

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I did and here it is! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

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To see a list of my published scholarly articles, click here. Coming soon: my published dissertation: The Limits of a Catholic Spirit.