Vibrant Nation

my bio

After working more than thirty-one years as a clinical psychologist, I retired in 1992 to begin my second career as a children's author. I'm a member of the Children's Literature Network and the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators and I enjoy visiting schools and presenting at Young Writer's Conferences.  My husband and I have three children, four grandchildren, four dogs (350 pounds of "dog"), and one kitten who believes he's a dog. He drinks from their water dish, sleeps with our German shepherd, and roughhouses with all of them.
If you know any kids who like to write, please invite then to check out the ongoing essay contest on my Web site http://www.kidscandoit.comvisit

my VN interview

• How did you get to where you are now?

  I've always liked to write (I even enjoyed writing up my psychological evaluations), so when I retired I began writing a few short stories which I submitted to children's magazoines. The editor at My Friend was a great encourager and inspired me to keep writing. After getting a few stories published, I tried my had at writing a book. At this point, I have seven published children's books and I just finished my eighth. I would say that I'm where I am now because of all the people who encouraged and supported my dream to be a children's author when it was still just a dream.

• How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

  Ten years ago I was still a struggling writer and now even though I'm still "struggling," I finally feel like a real author. As Thumper would havwe said, "Who would have thunk?!"

• Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

  I hope my children's books will continue to receive awards and continue to be a blessing to their readerskk!

a postcard to my younger self

I know how much you loved to write but back then you didn't feel there was anything you could do with a degree in English, so you changed from English to psychology. Who knows "what might have been" if you had stuck with your original plan! It just goes to show how important it is to listen to our hearts and never give up our dreams!

my role models

Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my favorite role models. The main thing I share with her is our "overbite," but I admire her passion for helping the comman man and for not getting caught up with the societal expectations of her time.