I am a writer.
I am a wife, mother, and grandmother but I am also a writer. I was born in the beautiful city of Chicago and now reside in the Chicagoland area. I have always had a close relationship with the written word since I was a young child. People today probably cannot believe I was once a very shy girl. As a second-grader, I was placed in a third-grade creative writing language arts class. I remember how nervous I was walking down the hall to sit next to students I viewed as "older kids". This class was a springboard for my writing passion and I appreciate whoever the teacher was that saw something in me.
At Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, I majored in Journalism with an emphasis in Advertising. My professional career started in outdoor advertising, then I went into retail advertising and finally advertising copywriting for a not-for-profit organization.
Being with my young family was so important to me, I took a slight break, which I would not trade for the world. I have two grown sons that I am so proud of. I returned to school to obtain an elementary teaching certificate which allowed me to be available to my boys during the summer.
I taught fourth-graders and later fifth-graders for over twenty years. Daily journal writing was encouraged in our classroom. Teaching children to write creative narratives or poetry was a favorite part of our language arts class.
Now that I am retired, I have fulfilled a life-long dream to become a published Women's Fiction author. Imperfect Harmony: Carli's Groove is my second novel. I have woven my love of music into the storyline of this contemporary novel. Imperfect Harmony has a little bit of everything for the reader; drama, romance, mystery, and of course, music! It is the perfect Book Club selection with plentiful themes, characters, and subplots to discuss.
Unanimous Decision, is my self-published debut novel. I heard from many readers who wanted more from their favorite illustrious characters of Unanimous Decision, I am currently working on a follow-up novel that will continue Ella's story.
Outside of reading and writing, I enjoy traveling immensely. I love meeting new people and hearing their stories. I've traipsed across the country and international waters where I have made some awesome friends from various regions. I also like visiting wineries and participating in wine-tasting. You can find me listening to any genre of music at any given time and singing along, even if I don't know all the words! And what goes well with music? Dancing, of course! I will jump up and groove to almost any beat that strikes a chord within my soul. Oh yes, the beach---it's a whole vibe for me. Sitting with my toes in the sand, listening to the waves and playing some jazz rejuvenates my mind. Finally, my family and my close friends know that I love coordinating a themed party complete with a competition or costume requirement. Spending time with loved ones is time well spent. The support, the laughter, and the camaraderie felt hanging out with those you love and those who love you are immeasurable.
Thank you to my readers. I appreciate your support, and I hope you enjoy my latest story!