oh, hello

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Everything I loved when I was seven is everything I still love now: chickens, soccer, piano, writing. I'm of a rare breed who has actually managed to do everything Young Me once fantastized about doing "when I grow up": I played pro soccer, I played piano professionally, I was a journalist, and you better believe I own chickens and ducks. I've been published as a newswriter and ghostwriter, sure. But published as a novelist? This final goal has evaded me, as things that stare us down as our true destined calling often do. No more excuses. So I write. 

My professional milieu has been equal parts sport and writing. My "grownup" job was as a copy editor, news writer, and technical writer. To ensure my soul didn't die during these pursuits, I played and then coached soccer. Lest I find 12 spare minutes in a day, I also pack in some piano lessons or organ accompaniment. Because who wants to sit still?!

As my life has zigged and zagged through competitve sports, motherhood, and music, one thing has remained constant: my drive to write. I believe I have a calling, and I have been increasingly unable to silence this calling. Join me on my journey to get published, this time as a novelist. 

My Proudest Accomplishments:

Two amazing daughters, Camille and Isabelle, have been my sidekicks and BFFs all along. My novel-writing was inspired by them, and my nonfiction work is solely dedicated to them. They are brilliant, hilarious, and generally the smartest two people in any room. (Really. I know I made them, but they're so intimidatingly smart.)

I have played soccer. A lot. In really cool places. I played in southern Germany for a bit after a brief injury-laden stint in college, then trained with a professional team in Portland when the NWSL was just starting to be a thing. I've coached in Germany, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Alaska. I have a bunch of fancy licenses that no one outside of the wierdly egocentric soccer community cares about. I have some coaching awards for being rad. So that makes me feel good. 

I like fitness. My journey to health is deeply personal and rather altruistic ( you can read about it here). I decided to test my mettle (and my muscle) via fitness competitions. I did this secretly, training diligently and being, well, rather hungry for about six weeks. Then I won my class and placed 2nd overall. If I didn't have to wear a ridiculous sparkly bikini, I'd compete all the time, because playing mad scientist with my own body was thrilling. 

My oldest skill is playing the piano. My earliest memories involve this wonderful instrument, and I'm fortunate to call musicality my geneological right. Music and myriad instruments are as common in my home as groceries. My classical studies took me to competitions in my teenage years, to stages with symphonies and orchestras and choirs in my adult years, and to my favorite venue -- families' homes -- to teach piano to wee ones and grownups alike. I also pulled a nifty side hustle out of this skill along the way: I'm a rather good organist. Weddings, funerals, church services, or just jonesing for some Phanton of the Opera soundtracks, I'm your gal.