At 11, I wrote my first 100-page story while in 6th grade.
(And never stopped!)

From that day on I wrote “I am a writer!”
at the top of my journal pages each and every day.

Publishing in a leading men’s magazine at 17.
(Yes, I lied about being 18 and forever felt guilty.)

Wrote my first full-length novel at 18.
(During high school classes—not in between.)

Found out I was dyslexic my first year in college—explained a lot.
(Moved on, didn’t let it slow down my word-roll.)

Was offered a job in LA as a studio-writer three months before graduation.
(Turned it down—for so many reasons. One day I’ll write about that.)

Graduated college and decided to travel—wrote for travel magazines and backpacked around Europe.

Got myself a “literary” agent accidentally.

Became a GhostWriter for a very well-known doctor and the rest was history . . . (or just the beginning of my juicy tale.)

Came home, settled in the Florida Keys, became a middle/high school teacher—and taught my kids to write, each and every single day.

Fell in love. Wrote romance novels under pseudonyms.

Started a tutoring business helping kids who were falling through the “cracks” of the educational system.

Left the public school system—a lot happened that one day I’ll write about.

Took my tutoring business online and branded myself as The Education Lady. (I even have a jingle from those days and courses sitting on dusty, virtual shelves.)

Kept writing for others and for myself.

Took a vacation and meet my Frenchman.

A lot happened. Enough said, for now.

Made my childhood dream a reality—thanks to said Frenchman—a little cottage on a hill, overlooking the sea, surrounded by secret gardens, where I sit all day and write.

Meet a baby goat who came to the back door of my island cottage and said, “Maah!” (I fell in love.)

Stayed for more than a year to bottle feed and raise him. (#life-changing)

Joined a transformational program that was life-changing for me.
(A year later ended up becoming a coach in that program.)

Meet Autumn, my new editor-on-call, and love her like a soul-sister.
(She gets me and my word-crazy.)

Started The JOYful Writer brand and wrote about JOY.
(You can read some old posts on the blog.)

Wrote and published the first book under my name—Create Your Most Delicious Life: Life’s a Bitch, Especially Now, Make It a JOY!

Started The JOY Series of books but haven’t released them, yet. Instead . . .

Moved to a new property with more land—23 rescue goats, four rescue cats, 2 rescue pups, 1 rescue bunny and oodles of hens, chicks, roosters and iguanas as of January 2025. (It’s a zoo and I love it.)

Wrote and then published Please Pass the JOY under my name.

Also passed 66 other books published as a ghost(writer) or under pseudonyms!

Created a 33 Day Magnetic Storytelling Challenge to help people fall in love with writing.

Wrote The Magnetic Storytelling Method as I saw a need to help creatives/writers.

Focusing on helping people access more JOY, live a delicious life and write what’s inside them (when not rescuing all-the-animals).

And now, January 2025, as I type this, I’m considering launching a Membership for Writers and Creatives. Fun!