As part of my academic life, I occasionally present papers and research. I’ve also freelanced a bit in nonfiction and reviewing over the years, which you can find below.

professional memberships

  • MFA Hamline University, Writing for Children & Young Adults [2022]

  • B.S. English/Creative Writing Indiana State University [2009]

  • Member of SCBWI

  • Member of Sisters in Crime National, SINC Chicagoland, & SINC Guppies

  • Member of Mystery Writers of America National & MWA Midwest

Publications

 

Creative Nonfiction

“When Wonder Sings,” Calla Press, “Living in Wonder,” Spring 2025

Fiction

“Niahm’s Song,” forthcoming form Twenty Hills Press

Poety

“Creation” Euphemism, Volume 8.1, 2018

“Cleaning the Tank,” Euphemism, Volume 8.1, 2018

presentations & papers

  • Hamline University Winter Residency, January 2022
    Presented Creative Thesis: “Trowel and Trouble: A Ruby Eloise Mystery”

  • Hamline University Winter Residency, January 2021
    Presented Critical Thesis: “Taking Care of Reader: The Art of Murder in Middle Grade Mysteries”

  • The Writer’s Nook Virtual Conference, 2021
    Presented “Coming to Terms with Your Inner Writer”

  • NCTE Annual Convention “¡Confluencia! Songs of Ourselves,” 2020
    Accepted to co-facilitate panel titled “New Entrances to Critical Lens Work Through Young Adult Literature, Film and Picture Books”

  • AISLE and IATE “Together We Can” Conference, 2019
    Co-facilitated panel titled “Critical Choices: Awakening Students' Enthusiasm for Reading the World”

  • English Studies at Large Conference, Illinois State University, 2013
    Presented paper: “Mashing up YA Lit: How Genre Blending Challenges and Creates Readers”

podcasts

Guest interviews

Freelance

Cake N Whiskey Magazine Sip & Slice Blog columnist, 2015

Cedar & Soul contributor, 2015

  • “Healing Movement: He Set My Feet to Dancing”

  • “Blooms Among the Ash”

  • “Wild Romance: Alive and Whispering” [poetry]

  • “The Year of the Good Stuff”

Cozy Orange Blog, contributor, 2014

  • “To Show Up”

  • “Fearlessly Flying”

Kid Lit Exchange, 2018

  • Chaotic Good by Whitney Gardner [young adult]

  • The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange [middle grade]

  • This is Not a Valentine by Carter Higgins [picture book]

Nerdy Book Club, guest contributor, 2014-2017

Over the Moon magazine, columnist, 2014-2015

  • “How to Imagine Your Way Out of Writer’s Block”

  • “I Wish I Had Her Job”

  • “How to Date Yourself”

  • “Open Your Heart Through Yoga”

  • “Remembering the True Meeting of Christmas”

  • “A Moment of Bliss: DIY Holiday Mochas”

  • “Meeting God on the Mat”