ABOUT ME & MY JOURNEY
about me
Out of high school, I attended Niagara University and obtained my BFA in Theatre. I loved performing and I loved working with children. I never really grew out of playing or reading children’s books. After the birth of my first son, I went back to school after finding a program that fit me to a T. SUNY Brockport’s Interdisciplinary Arts for Children program allowed me to explore puppetry, art, music, dance, literature, and more as it related to mulitidisciplinary learning.
My dual MS in education was meant to lead to a career in teaching, and I did teach for a while, but my body had other plans. I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis after years of increasing chronic pain. My second son gave me the extra motivation to step back from working and I needed something to keep me busy. I’d started many writing projects over the years and now I was ready to take the leap. I was going to write a book.
about the series
In 2009, I had a dream about a little girl who was bullied but was able to wish her bully away with the help of pterosaurs. When I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, I knew I had to write it down. Unfortunately, I was a single mom and full time student with very little freetime for writing.
When the lockdown of 2020 arrived, I had a baby and a high schooler being homeschooled, but I also had time. Within months, I had my first book completed. It was a rush of excitement and a lot of late nights writing, with and without the baby. Finishing your first book feels like a major victory until you realize you have a decision to make. I wanted to publish. It took a bit of time to find an agent, but very quickly after I had a book deal for the 3 book Ridders Series. Sue B and the Ridders released June 2023 and The Return of Ritter followed June 2024. Book 3, Back to the Ridderlands, will be out November 2025.