About

I am a writer, poet, and teacher. My favorite genre is whichever one I’m working in: poetry, essays, and short and long fiction all offer their own pleasures and their own strengths in exploring ideas and making sense of the world. In my writing I’m really interested in looking at the stories people tell about, and to, themselves; nature and dogs are often key elements of my work. I occasionally offer writing workshops – it’s a pleasure to work with fellow writers.

I was born in Syracuse, N.Y. where I spent part of my childhood before moving with my family out to the suburbs. Our subdivision was still being carved from farmers’ fields, and I spent many hours exploring that acreage, often with our three family dogs and numerous neighborhood dogs at my side. I’m lucky to have had a mom who taught us to look up to the stars and to garden, and a dad who taught me that spiders are just like us, trying to live their lives and survive.

As an adult I moved north, and have been here ever since. For decades I lived in rural areas on roads called “County Route,” with a yard that was measured in acres. In 2011, inspired by Howard Ensign Evans book, Life on a Little Known Planet, I decided to get to know the bugs in my backyard. I began a project of photographing them and cataloging the photos in binders. When we purchased a village home in July, 2020, I set about planting insect-friendly shrubs and practicing insect-friendly gardening and lawn care. My presentation series, “Hello Insects!” is based on that project.

PUBLICATIONS:

The Bangalore Review, 2023. Online. “Packing/Unpacking,” a short, short story.

Earth Care: An Anthology of poetry and essays about Ecology, 2022. Online. Two poems: “Irish Potato Famine,” and “Housing Development,” and an essay, “Redlining: An Inheritance.”

Main Street Rag, Fall 2020. “Nostalgia,” a short story

Obelus Review, 2020 (Fiction, Front page, No. 2) My first online publication, a flash nonfiction piece, “On Going Into the World, Instructions for a Bookworm.” Sadly it appears the publication has closed and the website no longer is available.

Dragonfly Arts Magazine, 2019. “Turning Point,” a poem

Tule Review, 2016, “The remarkable thing . . . ” a poem, with thanks to Howard Ensign Evans, author of “Wasp Farm”

The Aurorean, 2015, “Country Eyes,” a poem

Blueline: A Literary Magazine Dedicated to the Spirit of the Adirondacks, a book review of Jennifer Bove’s A Mile in Her Boots

JAEPL (an NCTE affiliated publication), Online“The Other End of the Kaleidoscope: Configuring Circles of Teaching and Learning,” an essay written with co-authors Victoria Levitt and Jennifer Mitchell

and links to resources I’ve found very helpful:

Jane Friedman’s blog : If you’re looking for practical advice on getting published, this is a great place to start and end. Jane’s advice is practical and straightforward – my favorite kind.

Paul Brians’ Common Errors in English: If you’re looking for no-nonsense (i.e., my way or the highway) opinions about “correct” usage you’ll be in the right place. The organization is a little old fashioned (i.e., clean and simple).