ABOUT ME

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I spent a lot of time camping and fishing in the pouring rain with my dad. When the fish weren't biting or the weather was just too miserable, we holed up inside our tent and passed the hours playing cards and telling stories. Since then, I've earned graduate degrees in writing and education. I've been a camp counselor, a preschool teacher and a curriculum developer. I've studied Kiswahili in Mombasa, Kenya, provided instructional support to teachers in Ladakh, India, and taught elementary school in Mission, South Dakota. Along the way, I've been amazed and inspired by the bravery, curiosity and creativity of children. The natural world continues to fascinate me, and I've never stopped telling stories. These days, I make my home in Portland, Oregon, where deserts, beaches, forests and mountains are all within reach.