About Me

I am a readings specialist, literacy coach, and writer.

I write board books, picture books,

chapter books, and mid-grade

ranging from cute and funny to warm and whimsical.

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I love stories! I love sliding into the magical and mysterious worlds of books. I love creating silly and wonderful stories of my own and exploring alongside quirky and charming characters.

Everything I have ever loved doing has had to do with books and children. I am a reading specialist, a mom and wife, a dandelion wisher, and moonbeam catcher. I love my family and I love the feeling of a new story emerging in my mind and heart, and coming to life at my fingertips.

It’s not uncommon to find me hugging a tree or practicing yoga, making up silly stories about ordinary happenings, or laughing (well some might say cackling) with my family and friends.

I am so grateful to be able to do what I love every day. And that I get to share my stories with you. Visit my Books page for the latest updates on books and stories coming soon!

Some (but definitely not all) of my favorite books:

  • “The Hug” (McLaughlin)

  • “Dandy” (Dyckman / Santoso)

  • “The Night Gardner” (The Fan Brothers)

  • “Cyril and Pat” (Gravett)

  • “The Forgetful Knight” (Robinson / Blunt)

  • The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles (Cuevas / Stead)

  • Little Owl Lost (Haughton)

  • “Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness” (Brantz)

  • “On Account of the Gum” (Rex)

  • “I Need My Monster” (Knoll / McWilliam)

  • “The Paper Bag Princess” (Munsch)

  • “Chrysanthemum” (Henkes)

  • Kate, Who Tamed The Wind (Scanlon / White)

  • I like to be Little (Zolotow)

Everyday Literacy

I’ve always loved writing as a way to process all my big feelings, but I never thought I’d be a professional writer (even though my mom always said I would).
I was an English Major at the University of Richmond.

I then was a corporate event planner, which led me to become the Community Relations Manager at Barnes & Noble.

I loved all my work with children’s storytimes and book events, author events, school book fairs, etc., so I became a middle school English teacher, Reading Specialist and eventually

JK-12 Literacy Coach.

It was when I was staying home with my children that I began writing children’s books - for them - and for me - and then as a career where I get to share them out into the world.

It was not the plan, but it really all makes sense.

The next part for me came full circle. Through my books, I was connected with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, where I now work again as a Literacy Coach with families raising children 0-5. We talk about how literacy begins at birth and how we build the foundation for reading in our everyday lives.

I believe the next part of my journey supports early literacy in even bigger ways and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me next.

For now I LOVE writing books and I LOVE talking about literacy with families. I LOVE the freedom to be with my family and I LOVE the parts of my super-weird brain that allow me to do this very fun and fulfilling job.

The Best Part

The best part of writing children’s books is being able to read them with children! I love your brilliant and creative brains and hearing about your ideas!
THANK YOU, to everyone who has read my book. It means the world to me to hear about which parts make you giggle and which parts connect to your life.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Everywhere! I get my ideas from conversations, music, nature, funny things my family does, emotions I feel, and questions I wonder about. Where do you get your ideas?

  • When my son, Lucas, was 4, he begged me to play the violin. He was almost always dressed as a superhero, pirate, or sports star. When he made music, I would watch him step into a world of imagination that was all his own. That is how the idea for Lucas Plays was born.

  • Yes! We have two very fluffy lop-eared bunnies named Primrose and Buckley.

  • Definitely turquoise!

  • Ice cream - unless it’s crumb cake. Then, definitely crumb cake.

  • YES! Two new picture books are coming out in 2025!

    THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani

    NO LOVE POTION illustrated by Merry Miller-Gass

    There are some other super secret books I’m excited about. As soon as I can share news about them, I will!

  • Yes! Visit the School Visits page for more information.

  • I love to be outside, hiking in the mountains, or going to the beach. I love spending time with my family and friends, enjoying music, nature, or a toasty warm fire pit complete with roasted marshmellows.