My Bio

I'm a freelance writer and aspiring novelist, a sometimes empty-nester (our college son is home for the summer), a drive-'em-nuts mom-in-law, and a ga-ga grandmom who  embraces this season of life and cherishes family memories.

I am represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with Hartline Literary Agency.

Read more about my writing journey at Novice Novelist Novel Notes. I also regularly contribute to my online writing group's website, Kindred Heart Writers.


Publishing Experience

Booklet

The Write Team: Starting an Online Writing Group
by the Kindred Heart Writers (self-published)

Magazines/Small Press

“After the Conference – Now What?” Cross and Quill
“A New Year’s Memory” Over the Back Fence
“e. e. cummings: A Celebration of Sponta(typographical)neity” Calliope

Poems

“On I-70" The Nebraska English Counselor
“Have You Seen This Child?” Nebraska English Counselor
“Luke 23:34" Broken Streets IV
“No Looking Back” Plainsongs
“Summer Dance” Plainsongs

Newsletter

For more than two years, I published an eight-page newsletter called Today’s Scrapbook. Based on the historical domestic advice scrapbooks of the early 1900s, it included short historical articles, biographies of notable women, book reviews, readers’ essays, household tips, and recipes.


Writing Awards

• Best Novel – 2010 Florida Christian Writers Conference
• Writer of the Year – 2009 Florida Christian Writers Conference
• Best Novel – 2009 Florida Christian Writers Conference
• Sigma Tau Delta Honors Conference, University of Central Florida

Writing Experience

• Regular contributor to the Kindred Heart Writers blog;
• Contributor to Emmaus Moments, a devotional written by the Kindred Heart Writers which has agent representation;
• Revised western civilization college textbook for client;
• Rewrote/revised novella for client;
• Wrote hundreds of search engine optimization (SEO) articles for a client’s website;
• Assisted in writing and revising of The History of the Bible by Dr. Jeffery R. W. Donley and formatted manuscript according to required template;
• Wrote numerous speeches, press releases, correspondence, newsletters, abstracts, and informational booklets during employment with two Members of the Florida Legislature;
• Created and oversaw the publication of a newspaper for senior citizens as a campaign volunteer;
• Wrote, edited, proofed, and researched material for A Beka Books;
• Proofed and copyedited Visions and Values, an interdisciplinary humanities college textbook; and,
• Participated in NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, in 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2009.

Speaking Experience 

• 2010 Florida Christian Writers Conference After Hours: “Novice Novelist Novel Notes”
• 2009 Florida Christian Writers Conference After Hours: “After the Conference – Now What?”
• 2009 Florida Christian Writers Conference After Hours: “Starting an Online Writing Group” (presented with other members of the Kindred Heart Writers)
• Various Christian women’s groups

Associations

• American Christian Fiction Writers
• Kindred Heart Writers
• TVW2 (The Writers View 2)

Conferences

• American Christian Fiction Writers Conference (attending September 2010)
• Master Seminar: “Adding Depth to Your Fiction” with Susan Meissner and Lisa Samson  (May 2010)
• Florida Christian Writers Conference (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• American Christian Writers Conference (2006, 2008)
• Authors Blitz (2007)

Prior Employment History

Florida Legislature
Senior District Executive Secretary
07/1991 to 11/2006

• Performed district liaison, constituent service, and office management duties;
• Wrote responses regarding legislative issues to concerned citizens;
• Wrote letters to government agencies on behalf of constituents who requested assistance;
• Wrote speeches and press releases;
• Created, wrote, formatted, and edited informational booklets, newsletters, congratulatory cards, abstracts, office forms, stationery, bulletins, and programs;
• Evaluated grant applications for non-profit groups; and
• Organized grant-writing workshops for local non-profits and county legislative delegation meetings.

A Beka Books
Editor/Writer
09/1990 to 05/1991

• Wrote and edited the front matter and the suggestions for teachers, including questions, vocabulary lists, and enrichment ideas, for a fourth grade reader, All Things – Even Frisky;
• Wrote and edited various lessons for a sixth grade art projects text, including the material for the works of featured artists and ideas for summer projects;
• Edited lessons for a sixth-grade spelling text;
• Prepared the index for a seventh-grade science text and also assisted in the editing, writing, and proofing of the glossary for the same book; and
• Performed other editing, writing, proofing, and research tasks as directed.

Education

Master of Liberal Studies, Rollins College, Orlando, Florida (2003)
Thesis: Exploring the Human-Canine Bond (creative nonfiction)

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; (1990)
Liberty University’s Lifelong Learning Program, Lynchburg, Virginia


Service

• Guardian ad litem, Ninth Judicial Circuit – Osceola County, Florida;
• Facilitator of Hearts Above women's Bible study group (meets on a weekly basis);
• Past speaker at small events for women;
• Have taught several Sunday School and Vacation Bible school classes; and
• Various volunteer activities in churches, schools, and the communnity.