I'm a writer. I was that kid who wrote full stories instead of individual sentences with her vocab words in elementary school. I grew up and went to graduate school at Emerson College and received my MFA in Creative Writing. Now, I write for middle grade readers (ages 9-12) and young adults (12 and up). Most people seem to want to know why those age groups. My best answer? It's the voice I feel most comfortable with and the stories I want to tell. Even my so-called "adult" stories feature children as the main characters.

I'm a reader. Long before the vocab lists, I was reading. I read at the table, in the car, outside on a rock, under my covers with a flashlight...you get the idea. If Beverly Cleary or Judy Blume wrote it--or if it featured Jessica and Elizabeth, or Laura and the Ingalls clan--I've read it. My habits haven't changed much. Stephen King, Dennis Lehane, and Zadie Smith now line my bookshelves, right along side Wendy French, Lara Zeises, Cynthia Lord, Laurie Halse Anderson...and others too numerous to name (if you don't recognize these names, get thee to your local bookseller).

I'm a teacher. I'm an Assistant Professor in the Liberal Arts department of a small college of fine arts north of Boston, where I teach freshman comp, lit classes, and some creative writing electives. My students invigorate, inspire, and never cease to amaze me. I also teach at an adult ed program just outside of downtown Boston.

I'm a fan. Basketball, football, hockey and baseball...if my Boston College Eagles or the Red Sox are playing, I'm there. Literally. I'm a season ticket holder to all four sports. This girl understands what "shot clock violation," "illegal motion in the back field," "icing," and "balking" are. Game on!

I'm a wife. My husband is also a writer, BC Eagles and Red Sox fan...can you imagine? We live in the suburbs with our little black dog, who amuses us every day.