ABOUT ME
I didn't always want to be a writer.
I was born in California, and after living in Indiana for a bit, my parents returned to Cali. I did
learn to read on my own when I was about four years old (and I have remained an avid reader ever since).
I grew up in southern California, and was in the first graduating class of my high school. It was in
my Honors/AP English classes with Mrs. Wilson (no relation) that I found out that I could write. I
submitted things to our literary magazine, worked on the newspaper and the yearbook (in addition to
being in student government all four years and being a cheerleader). One of my best writing memories
from high school was the time in my senior year that Mrs. Wilson took my "A+" answer to an essay question,
photocopied it and passed it out to the class. By the time I had graduated, I had eight younger brothers
and sisters.
I went to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. I did not take a single English class while at
college. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I considered a variety of choices - teacher,
college professor, social worker, actress, psychologist, etc. I envied my friends who knew exactly what
they wanted to do and planned their studies accordingly.
My junior year, while taking a world history class, I realized that I loved history. I was good at it.
I didn't think I could do much with it other than become a teacher, but I decided to make history my
major. Looking back, I realize that I probably should have majored in anthropology, because what
fascinates me about history is the cultural aspect. I'm not interested in dates and events - but I'm
enthralled by what people wore and what they ate and how they lived. It was while taking a History
of the South class that I came up with my first book idea. I don't know where or why I got the idea of
writing a book, and when I told my professor it would be a romance she encouraged me to try to be more
literary. Like Faulkner. Didn't happen.
I got married before my second senior year to my wonderful, amazing husband. We met at the Missionary
Training Center, where he was a missionary and I worked in the cafeteria (they always said the way to a
man's heart is through his stomach). He was friends with a girl I worked with, we were introduced, and
we started writing. He went off to serve a mission in the Philippines for two years, I did not
intentionally wait for him, and so we began dating when he returned home. He proposed on my 21st
birthday, and we were married in 1996.
Not too long after that little ones came along - our oldest son was born in 1999, our next son in 2002.
My oldest was diagnosed with autism in early 2002, and after a lot of intensive early intervention, he
is functioning at what is considered to be "normal" levels. He has come a long way, and we
are exceedingly proud of him. We still have some behavioral issues (and he is very familiar with the
inside of the principal's office), but we're working on them. Our second son had a speech delay, which
scared us. He had speech therapy and is now fine.
For many years after our second son's birth, we tried to have another baby. We found out that we
suffered from secondary infertility (where you have a baby or two and then are unable to have more).
The doctors aren't sure why it happened but with a great deal of medical intervention and a lot of
prayers, I am currently pregnant with our daughter. The issues of autism and secondary infertility are
ones that are close to my heart, and I am affiliated with many organizations that address these problems.
Because my eldest had a need for very expensive treatments that weren't covered by insurance, I spent a
lot of time on my knees asking the Lord how to get the money to pay for them. I was inspired to write a
book. I was one of those people who thought you simply had to write a manuscript, mail it off and the
millions would come pouring in. Turned out it wasn't quite that easy. I studied all the books I could
find on how to write novels and how to correctly submit them.
Then I had the beginning of an idea - I saw in my mind a Lamanite prisoner and a Nephite girl rescuing
him. From there I built the story that became "Secrets in Zarahemla." It was my first
completed manuscript. I mailed it to Covenant Communications, Inc. in July 2005. In December 2005 my
editor called to say they had accepted my manuscript.
My favorite color is green, my favorite number is 11. I love to read, to cross-stitch, love watching
TV and movies. I couldn't pick a favorite author or a favorite book - I have too many that I love
(same with TV and movies). My favorite animal is a rabbit. So far my favorite vacation was the one I
took last year with my family to Disney World. My favorite things to do are to waste time on the
computer (surprisingly easy) and spend time with my family.
And I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
