I’ve been married to my college sweetheart for 40 years, and we have a son. I was raised surrounded by traditional values, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered I’m a closet feminist and progressive conservative. That shift in mindset has shaped me as a writer. I write historical fiction with social justice themes, and blog about food, living simply, and sustainability.

I’m a native Texan and an Army brat. That means I’ve lived all over the US and traveled abroad. But I’ve landed back in my home state. I still love visiting interesting places.

My grandma lived with us when I was a kid. She fostered in me a love of baking, gardening, and wandering through nature. She helped me see who I was and let me be me. My fondest memories are our long talks while tending our family garden plot, taking long walks, baking bread together, or sitting on her bed watching game shows and eating Brach’s orange slices.

I’m a two-cup-a-morning gal, sourdough enthusiast, and self-proclaimed cat lady. Music feeds my soul and playing my flute or the piano keeps me well fed.

I am a retired middle-school teacher. I found so much joy in my students’ ah-ha moments. It still thrills me to teach someone something new and when I earn a new skill myself, even at my ripe old age.

Like the first time I baked a perfect loaf of sourdough bread. I developed my sourdough starter and made many terrific things from the discard. However, my loaves always fell flat, literally. But I didn’t give up and finally struck upon the solution that gives me a perfect loaf every time.