My Story
Growing up in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, I loved playing outside with my younger brother, Matthew. Some of my favorite days were when we headed into the woods in the mornings and spent the day exploring the forest and playing in the creeks. I also loved time with my cousins, school, stories, and books. Although I initially struggled to learn to read, reading became as much a part of me as my skin. By my final elementary school years, I was the kid who fell asleep every night straining my eyes in the sliver of moonlight trying to read when I should have been sleeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did you become a writer?
I have loved songs and folktales my entire life, but learning to read written words was a challenge for me. Once I learned to read, it opened the door to an entirely new world. I could go anywhere and do anything through books. Writing became a natural extension of that. It allowed me to revisit happy times, heal from sad ones, and explore through the eyes of the characters I created. That’s why I love writing.
Where do you get your ideas for writing?
Everywhere! Sometimes they come from things I read or places I see. Sometimes they are inspired by stories I heard as a child or the events of my life.
Kawoni’s Journey came from a combination of those things. My great-grandfather’s mother was Cherokee. He lived to be almost a hundred years old. Five generations of our family were blessed to hear his stories. Unfortunately, only my oldest son was among that group. He died before my other children were born. My daughter’s favorite story when she was a child was Little Red Riding Hood. I rewrote the Little Red Riding Hood Story to include some of the family stories I loved so that she and her younger brothers would have a familiar way into them.
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Other Published Works
School and Library Visits
Program Options: Meet the Author or Writing Workshop
I offer both Meet the Author and Writing Workshops for schools and libraries and can tailor my discussion so that it is appropriate for any grade level.
Meet the Author sessions start with a PowerPoint presentation that includes pictures of me, my family, and a brief discussion on where I’m from. Then I do some storytelling or read from one of my published works. At the end of the session, students are given an opportunity to ask questions. For Meet the Author sessions at the elementary school level, students are also given activity sheets that accompany the session. This could include coloring sheets, mazes, or word search sheets. Samples of these completed by students during school visits are showcased on this page.
Upcoming Visits & Events
Fall 2024
10.19.2024 — Atlanta Women’s Study Club, Atlanta, GA
Connect with Us
I love hearing from readers. Fill out this form to tell me what you thought about my stories or books.
You can also use this form if you’d like more information about a school or library visit.