I've loved to write ever since I felt the weight of that chunky pencil in my hand in first grade. (I didn't go to kindergarten.) And I always loved making up stories and getting writing assignments in school. As I grew older, though, I didn't have the confidence to take creative writing. So I spent most of my adult life fantasizing about being a writer.

After I wrote some articles for my church's newsletter, a pastor friend encouraged me to attend a conference. In 1999 a new world opened up to me at the Write-to-Publish Conference in the Chicago area. Since then, I've written newspaper features and op-ed columns, magazine articles, and devotionals for websites, church bulletins, and publications such as The Quiet Hour and CBN.com. I've had three one-year devotional books published and also contributed stories to several compilation books.

I also enjoy speaking and teaching at writers' conferences. I'm a 2006 CLASS graduate (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services), and a member of Toastmasters International and several online writers' groups.

My husband and I both grew up in Tennessee and moved to Illinois in 1982. We've been blessed by our three grown children and two beautiful grandchildren. Now our life journey has taken an unexpected turn with an impending move to Salt Lake City. I'm grateful that as a writer, I can take my work with me anywhere-and that any life experience can be used as raw material.