I'm very proud to be a 5th generation Oregonian! I grew up in Portland and earned my BS in English Education at Oregon State University. I went on to earn an MFA in Writing from University of Montana, then a PhD in English from University of Wisconsin. Reading and writing are two of my great passions in life. I worked as a children's author/editor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for several years, and I have also worked as a professional proofreader/editor for a publishing house in NY.

I have published three books about literature, my most recent being WRITERS ON THE SPECTRUM: HOW AUTISM AND ASPERGER'S SYNDROME HAVE INFLUENCED LITERARY WRITING.

I've lived in beautiful Astoria for 24 years, ever since I was hired as a full time English instructor. I love our community and am very passionate about helping students reach their educational and personal goals.

I'm a lifelong learner and have, since earning my PhD, studied medieval literature at Oxford University; French language and literature at La Sorbonne--Paris; and Shakespeare at Cambridge University. At the age of 54 I trained to be a deckhand and have sailed aboard the tall ship Lady Washington from Canada to San Diego.