“In my little garden pretty” was the first line to the very first poem I ever wrote as a 7-year-old. I love words and making them work for me. I love laughter! Originally from western Pennsylvania, I am a coal miner’s daughter. Now residing in Lakewood, Colorado, I happily write at a mile high. My regular wordsmithing is as an editor/writer for a Women’s Ministry monthly newsletter (in year six!). I’m a professional editor and proofreader who has had several poems published in literary publications. When I was much younger, I aspired to be a baton twirler when I grew up. I partially fulfilled that dream by having careers in the education world (middle school through university level) where I had to spin as fast as I could to keep up with the students and advancements in teaching!

My horse, Morning Starr, and my 19-year-old feral cat, Mewzette, occupy some of my time when I am not creating with words. The Poetry Marathon is awesome!