I'm inspired daily to help others better understand what it means to be diagnosed with a disorder such as Broken Heart Syndrome, a rarity in the area of heart disease. I have a burning desire and duty to help the world know the facts. Likewise, I also am a living witness considering I have experienced it firsthand. What I know for certain is that the state and condition of a person's illness is greatly affected by their belief system and their attitude. Finding a way to be inspired by life, its beauty, glory and purpose, makes all the difference in turning the tide on a debilitating illness.

I spend the majority of my time working with children, they offer the greatest opportunity to explore the wonders of life.

I am trained formally as a librarian, having spent the majority of my life immersed in literature. My greatest joy is to read a good book, particularly ebooks as they are accessible via a number of electronic devices. I generally go to top sites such as Smashwords to get the latest reads.

Yes, the first story I ever wrote was about a woman riding on a subway in New York City. It was a personal adventure based upon a trip I'd taken there as a child. I presented it in class and also acted out the main character, the short shelf life of my acting career!

I do a great deal of research on the topics I write about. I possess advanced degrees, therefore have written using a number of different types of literary genres and formats. Writing is an ongoing process that takes a great deal of patience, in addition to time that is especially necessary for editing any final draft.

One story in particular stands out, by Maya Angelou titled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It is a poignant story about growing up under difficult circumstances during the beginning of the 20th century in America. As bitter as any childhood could be, this autobiography although laden with immense tragedy is a precursor to the making of a great woman. Need I say more about her impact upon contemporary literature and my desire to write? She has become an American legend that has influenced numerous fledgling authors as myself.

Despite having two different desks, I do not reside exclusively at either. I write wherever and whenever an idea or desire strikes: at work, while travelling, in bed, even while taking a hot bath. I keep most of my "good stuff" on thumb drives or my laptop. I also use notepad on my cell phone. I learned early on to keep a composition notebook nearby at all times, although several are filled with miscellaneous plots, topics and ideas that may never come to fruition, they are ever useful to refer to.

I spent the first six years of my childhood very much alone, except for my parents who were both avid readers. As early as three years old I remember writing letters to an aunt in another state. We became distant pen pals, thus the start of my writing habit. I gained quite a bit of experience, later writing short stories for fun. My first story was about my family. I've been hooked ever since.

My latest book evolved as a result of a near death experience. I believe it allowed me to connect with my life long passion of becoming a professional writer.

I'm very excited to be publishing an ebook with Smashwords. It is an excellent vehicle for book distribution, particularly for upcoming writers seeking non-traditional routes. Likewise, there are so many distribution channels located under one roof it makes it difficult to pass up. I look forward to publishing more titles with Smashwords in the future!

My greatest joy is to provide a voice to a variety of readers.