Bio

Born in Pittsburgh--where the only spices are salt, pepper and Heinz ketchup--I attended Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA.  It was far enough away for me to feel independent, but close enough I could get home in an hour by car.  As I had a bit of a lead foot, I could make it in forty-five minutes. 

I graduated with majors in Writing and Communications and minors in English and Public Relations.  It was nice to have my gift of gab and storytelling actually earn me a degree.  And how absolutely amazing to acquire credits for my love of reading and writing!  I couldn’t tell whether it felt like cheating or pure magic.

After college I embarked on a public relations career, where I was a speechwriter, assistant editor to a magazine, and public relations assistant.  Although I personally wrote hundreds of press releases and numerous magazine articles, my true passion has always been writing fiction. 

It wasn’t until I was married and had my children that I began to actively pursue writing as a career.  I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, YARWA (the Young Adult chapter), The Golden Network, and SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.)  I blog regularly on Waterworld Mermaids and Honestly YA. 

I live outside Washington D.C with my husband and five kids, a demanding cat, and an overgrown, neglected garden.  When I'm not reading or writing young adult books, I'm volunteering at the school, chauffeuring kids to soccer practice or covertly listening to my teenage daughters talk to their friends.  In the name of research, of course.  :-)

My novel FOR THE LOVE OF TERMITES won RWA's Golden Heart Award in the 2016 Inspirational Romance category!

Read Michelle Monkou's interview with me on the USA Today HEA site.