From ages 0 to 9, I moved every two or three years all over the country, which I like to think made me adaptable and open to new places, people, and ideas.  We lived in San Francisco, Virginia Beach, Albuquerque, N.M., Lexington, K.Y., and Dayton, Ohio.  The library was one of the first places we found anywhere we arrived.  I’ve always found a home in books.

It really never occurred to me that I could be a writer until I was in college.  I always thought I’d do something more “practical,” with a guaranteed salary.  (Believe me, there are no guarantees in writing.)  When I ditched the practical by majoring in Great Books at the University of Notre Dame, I began to think about writing as a sideline.

My first paid writing job was for a health newsletter in Charlottesville, Va., where I was earning my M.A. in English at the University of Virginia.  My first published piece of writing was about … uh … constipation.   No kidding.  I like to think I’ve come a long, long way.

Along that way, I’ve taught English literature and writing to middle and high school students and won a teacher of the year award.  I’ve written lots of articles – mainly for The Washington Post – about fun things to do in the greater Washington area.  I’ve also written a lot of essays about things I care about, such as my faith, reading aloud to children, and protecting the environment.

Now I live with my husband and three kids and Jessie the wonder dog near some woods and a stream in Arlington, Virginia, which is the inspiration for my second novel tentatively titled, String Theories.