“We write to taste life twice.”
Anais Nin
Born in Cullman, Alabama and raised in Birmingham, I moved to Atlanta at eighteen, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University.
Storytelling has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I spent hours inventing characters and scenes, acting them out with my dolls before I ever thought to put the stories on paper. When my mom lost her job, I wrote her a poem to cheer her up—then another, and another—until I had an entire notebook full of them. From there, I moved on to short stories inspired by my love of R.L. Stine.
At fifteen, I wrote my first novel (with a friend in math class asking me every day how far I’d gotten). I finished another by the time I was eighteen. Years of school, life, and many drafts later, that determination finally led to the completion of Pieces of Me, and I haven’t stopped writing since.
Today, I’m the author of ten novels across young adult contemporary, fantasy, and romance. My books include the Elemental Enchanters series, the January Dreams series, and several standalone novels.
When I’m not writing—which is rare—you can usually find me spending time with my family and friends, listening to music, playing with my furbabies, or cheering on my Atlanta Braves.
Some of My Favorites
When I’m not writing, here are a few of the things that make me happiest (besides books, of course):
- Book I never get tired of: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Author who first made me want to write: Edgar Allan Poe, R.L. Stine (thanks for all the spooky chills!)
- Authors who keep me inspired: Leigh Bardugo, Kathleen Glasgow, Gayle Forman, Sarah J. Maas
- Quote that sticks with me: “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien
- Music on repeat: Tori Amos, Jimmy Eat World, Manchester Orchestra, Better Than Ezra, and so many more.
- TV Shows I’ll always rewatch: The Vampire Diaries, anything by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Shrinking, Ted Lasso), and The Simpsons
- Movie comfort watch: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Inception, Old School
- Favorite foods: Cheese, potatoes, cherries, chips, and anything Greek, Mexican, or Italian
- Colors I gravitate to: Boysenberry blue and deep red
- Activities I love: Hiking, swimming, traveling, wine nights with friends, and spending time with my family
- Favorite places: The Smoky Mountains, Paris, Denver, California, and Scotland
- Sports loyalties: Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and Auburn Tigers
- Animal I secretly wish I could adopt: PANDA
- Dream travel destination: Italy and Greece (ancient ruins, seaside villages, and all the pasta, please!)
- Unexpected writing fuel: Sweetarts, Skittles, and Coca-Cola
- Best pens I use to write: Sharpie S-Gel, Pentel EnerGel
- Notebooks I obsess over: Moleskine, Rifle Paper Co.
