About

Words have intrigued me since I was quite young. I was blessed to have parents who encouraged me to love a good story, especially my father who read books aloud to my brothers and I in the evenings at bedtime. We were enthralled as he worked his way through stories both classic and cute, old and new.

As a middle-school student, I recall getting my first library card for the Argie Cooper Public Library in Shelbyville, Tennessee. What a thrill to lay that stack of books on the desk and watch the librarian punch those cream-colored cards with the return date.  It was there in that stately building adorned with oil paintings and Victorian-esque chairs that I came to love the smell of old books - pages worn with age but vibrant still with adventure. To this day, I enjoy browsing shelves in the library, but nothing will ever quite equal those childhood days when books became a beloved pastime.

I did begin writing at a young age with such masterpieces as "The Adventures of Munster Mouse" and "Ode to a Worm" to my credit. It was in high school though, that I learned I could put words together to impact someone else's thoughts. My English teacher, Mrs. Charlotte Hawkins, encouraged me to enter an essay competition. I chose one of the suggested topics, wrote the paper and placed in the top three. And I found I loved the writing part of it. From then on, I entered the competition every year, enjoying the feel of words as I sifted through them to find the right way to phrase my composition.

In college, I loved the literature segment of Freshman English - Miss Marcia Davis opened up the vistas of symbolism in the study of "The Scarlet Letter." I can still recall my anticipation of those classes. For a class assignment, I submitted a character piece featuring my mother and was honored to be published in the college magazine. During the rest of my college days, I wrote - for classes mostly, and a few pieces on topics that interested me.

And then, I married my sweetheart, graduated college, began ministry alongside my husband, and was blessed with four amazing children. It was while I was expecting my second child that I became interested in writing again and, along with another writer friend, started producing a small newsletter-type publication for Christian women called The Ladies Companion.  It has grown slowly and, after many redesigns and upgrades, I am still enjoying editing it.

In 2008, my husband encouraged me to attend a writer's conference in Indianapolis. God used that event to open further writing opportunities for me in the areas of women's study books.  I especially enjoy addressing topics which help women understand God's design of femininity, His magnificent creation of the genders and the way they're meant to complement each other. I enjoy writing some fiction too, and have focused mostly on the short story genre.

 I couldn't do what I do without my family - their love, encouragement and ideas inspire me. My husband and children are an incredible blessing to me in myriad ways. My life right now is packed with life's routines - being a pastor's wife, loving my husband, raising my kids and learning still how to be a good homemaker!  When I have time, I can be found writing or browsing books in the library or bookstore (and if there's a cup of gourmet coffee involved, that's even better!)