I was born forever ago in Virginia (and lived there about three seconds) 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 degree—I have lived by the school calendar since I was 5, so you’re free to call me institutionalized, because I am. I’ve lived in southern Minnesota for seventeen years, and I’m an English teacher at a two-year college, which is an excellent job, though being a full-time writer is my dream. I was a poet before I began to write novels, so my students hate it when I teach poetry--I'm way, way, way too enthusiastic about it. If I could figure out how to “sell” poetry to people, I’d consider myself at the pinnacle of my teaching career.
My husband and I play on an adult dodgeball team every spring and fall, though we didn’t get to do it this last year. I love pop culture, including some reality TV, most especially Project Runway and Top Chef. I also watch Ace of Cakes a lot, because it is my ambition to work for Duff Goldman someday (I wanted to be a chef when I was in middle school). I wish radio wasn’t a dying art form. If I have spare time, I’m either hanging out with my family, writing, reading, or indulging my pop culture fetish. I don’t eat chocolate, so my favorite flavors are peanut butter, lemon, and strawberry, OR, in the fall, pumpkin, eggnog, and peppermint. 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. We have a Wii (and a Wii Fit), so I 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 salsa dancer.
