I wanted to be a veterinarian or a girl Davy Crockett when I grew up. As it turns out, I became a writer. It still surprises me. I've written several nonfiction books on natural history and two illustrated children's books, and my essays, articles, and short stories have appeared in a variety of national magazines and anthologies. (See Feature work and Bibliography.)

My writing has a broad range because my life has been one grand survey of topics and experiences. Born and raised in Kentucky, I headed north and west soon after graduating from high school, living in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest for many years. Before settling into writing, I worked a variety of jobs, including bull cook in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay, commercial fisher, print shop photolithographer, waitress, flower delivery driver, mining claim staker, energy use advisor, and wildlife information officer. Somewhere in there I graduated from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. In 1991 I moved to the Gallatin Valley of Montana, and here I am, still.

In addition to working on my own writing, I help people convey their messages and ideas in catalogs, brochures, web content, articles, annual reports, and any other contemporary iteration of the smoke signal. Thanks for stopping by.



Selected Works


Children's Books
Ten Rowdy Ravens - illustrated children's book
A rollicking romp of raven hijinks.
Lucky Hares and Itchy Bears - illustrated children's book
A humorous rhyming revue of 15 northern animals.
Nonfiction
The Great Rocky Mountain Nature Factbook
A guide to the remarkable animals, plants, and natural features of the northern Rocky Mountains.
The Great Alaska Nature Factbook
A guide to the remarkable animals, plants, and natural features of Alaska.
Going Wild in Washington and Oregon
Seasonal excursions of wildlife discovery