Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. You might have stumbled upon an article I wrote, finished reading one of my books, or heard me on the radio. No matter, my prayer is that you’ll discover support, healing, and hope as you learn more about what God is doing in my life and peruse my website. Please pray for me.
I am a Catholic spirituality writer who focuses on the topics of grief, redemptive suffering, and waiting. I believe the world ignores and rejects the value of the Cross and write about the hidden value of suffering and discovering joy in the midst of grief.
My favorite words are encounter, encourage, and engage, because I want every person I meet to feel appreciated, valued, and important. These themes emerge in both my writing and speaking, which evoke both introspection and action. Be encouraged.
I believe that the world has enough tension, violence, and conflict – but not enough empathy, interior peace, and charity. Society tells us to seek happiness, to chase the American Dream – but I believe we should be content with simple joys that can be found in quiet ways each day.
I don’t think you have to be credentialed in professional writing or editing in order to become successful in the industry. I am proof of that. My college degrees are in Psychology (B.A.) and School Counseling (M.S.Ed.), and I knew nothing about query letters or protocol in the publishing world. Today, I am a fulfilled part-time editor (developmental, content, copy, and proofreader) for indie authors, as well as a hybrid author (both self- and traditionally published).
Bottom line is this: Dream big, and don’t let any obstacles impede your success. Perseverance is key to fulfilling the heart’s longings.
When I was old enough to write, I developed a dream of becoming a published author. The pragmatic side of me took over when I became a young adult entering college, so I nixed that authentic call in favor of something more comfortable and secure: counseling.
Today I see how my experience as a counselor and natural talent for writing and editing is a perfect marriage, really. The skills I learned in counseling – active listening, empathy, open-ended questions – all serve me well as a writer of the heart. I reach people where they are.
My ultimate goal through my writing and editing is threefold:
1. I want people to know that they are not alone. Loneliness is a horrific, dark place of emptiness, and my hope is that, through my writing people will find solace in their struggles.
2. Books change lives, and I want mine to open people’s minds and hearts to possibility. We live in a world of uncertainty and instability. My books focus on finding meaning, joy, and hope in the midst of waiting.
3. My favorite word is encounter. I believe everything we do is of no value unless we are intentional in how we connect with others. Encountering others means we reach them at the heart level and journey with them there. My writing always has an underpinning of the importance of this human encounter, and I try to live it on a daily basis, as well.