I was born in Austin, Texas. My parents moved a couple more times until they settled in Americus, Georgia, where I grew up. My father was an English professor and my mother was an elementary school teacher. Our household was full of creative and independent thinking children. I have four siblings, three sisters and a brother.

I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Valdosta State College. (It is now Valdosta State University.) I enjoy painting landscapes with acrylic on canvas the most, but have sculpted in marble and enjoyed that very much.

I started writing stories when I was seven and who knew that the author of “Dead Bird,” a five-line story, would one day write an entire novel?

I have lived in Memphis, Atlanta, Denver and now Chattanooga, TN. I live here with my first pet, a male cat I call Bell.