Bio

Daddy and  I Feeding a Lamb

A New Pig in the Family

I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kansas.

My father was a country veterinarian and my mother was very kind and tolerant. My childhood was filled with a menagerie -- dogs, cats, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, quail, hamsters, mice, gerbils, goats, sheep, guinea pigs, parakeets, canaries, guppies...

I'm amazed when I think back that my mother, not a big fan of animals, was nice about all that we brought into her clean house.

Until junior high, I wanted to be: either a cowboy like Roy Rogers, or a veterinarian like my daddy. I loved being my father's assistant. I helped him with surgeries, treating sick animals, working cattle, and delivering baby animals, especially calves and puppies.

Both my parents were very creative and encouraged creativity in their children. On the long rides around the countryside to take care of animals, my father and I made up stories and songs.

I drew alot of pictures growing up, especially horses.



A Childhood Horse Drawing

As a child, I thought that life was a musical...just like the old movies I watched on television. I was always waiting for people to start singing and dancing in real life and wondering if they were waiting on me to start.

In high school, I discovered acting and spent the next 15 years always in a show.

I acted throughout high school and college, in school, community, and professional theatre productions.

When I graduated from Wichita State University, I moved to Lawrence, Kansas. There I worked with the Seem to Be Players, a professional children's theatre company. With them, I toured thoughout the Midwestern states for 6 years, and have continued to work with them ever since, both as an actress and a writer.

Eventually, I went back to school to study art, because it had been one of my dreams to write and illustrate my own books. I spent two years at the University of Kansas studying art and psychology before moving to New York City where I studied at the School of Visual Art and the Art Students League.

Now, I'm busy writing and illustrating books, writing plays and teaching workshops for people of all ages.

Yes, I still have animals in my life - a lively Smooth Collie named Lucky.