I grew up between the Ozarks and Kansas City, shaped by both quiet woods and city streets. I met my husband in 2007 at a skating rink, a moment that changed everything. Today, we're raising our daughter and spending our summers in the pool or at the lake, usually with our two dogs close by.

My sister Tammy passed away at 45 after a battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer. She loved listening to the stories I wrote, and now, in a way, she's part of them. I get to carry her with me-on the page, in the quiet moments, and in the worlds I create.