I was born forever ago in Virginia but grew up in Central Nebraska in a town of 4500 people. I went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for two English degrees, then Iowa State University for another—I have lived by the school calendar since I was 5. I’ve lived in southern Minnesota for almost sixteen years, and I’m an English teacher at a two-year college, which is an excellent job, but being a full-time writer is my dream. I was a poet before I began to write novels, and my students hate it when I teach poetry--I'm way, way, way too enthusiastic about it.
My husband and I play on an adult dodgeball team every spring and fall. I love pop culture, including reality tv. I wish radio wasn’t a dying art form. If I have spare time, I’m either writing or reading or indulging my pop culture fetish. I don’t eat chocolate, so my favorite flavors are peanut butter or lemon or strawberry. I have to listen to music every day, and I have been known to jump on the trampoline with my son--I love to remind him I beat him at trampoline basketball. I watch Ace of Cakes every week, because it is my ambition to work for Duff Goldman someday (I wanted to be a chef when I was in middle school). We got a Wii (and a Wii Fit) this spring (I know, we're so behind!), so I'm learning to ski jump, hula hoop, and golf in my living room. I learn as much from my students as they do from me. I love the women in my writers' group like I love my family, and my secret ambition is to be a dancer, any kind but ballet.
