About
Here's my story...​
My love for words began as a kid, when I devoured Shel Silverstein's A Light in the Attic and then spent my recesses writing my own book of silly poems, which I gifted to my former preschool teacher. In 6th grade, I tried my hand at a more serious, heartfelt poem, which I took with me to my first writing conference/workshop in 7th grade. It was at one of those workshops that I discovered my written words held power to evoke emotion in others. As a very shy kid, who often felt I had very little impact on the world around me, I thought that was pretty cool. I've been writing ever since.
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In 2017, my first official publication came, with my short story "A Returned Reward" being published in Chicken Soup For the Soul: Inspiration for Teachers. It was around this same time, in the midst of a sweet season of mothering my babies, that I completely fell in love with the genre of picture books. With my 2 small daughters nestled onto my lap, reading time became my favorite time of the day. Their voices begging "again!" coupled with their infectious, uncontrollable laughter, and snuggling into me just a bit closer during tender moments, are memories that I will treasure forever. It's my desire to put material out into the world that fosters these same sweet memorable moments for others, and in a way that's entertaining and touching for both child and parent alike.
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My art journey began young as well. As a child, I covered every inch of my 3rd grade yellow composition book with drawings of my favorite cartoon characters. I drew in the margins of worksheets and school notes constantly, and studied artists I admired. I received my first commissions at age 16, and went on to paint many portraits, landscapes and murals. In 2016, I opened my Etsy shop, Mommy's Heart Prints, where I create customizable art that highlights the tenderness of the mother-child relationship. It has since morphed from it's original design into a ministry to mothers who've experienced the loss of a child.
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I've spent the past year as a Children's Ministry Director, writing scripts and developing the program for our kinder-first grade students, which has further honed my skills and taught me to work on a deadline.
I'm now entering a new season of fully embracing this creative call on my life. As I look back, I can easily see how God used all these pieces to prepare me for the road ahead. And as I look to the future, I trust He's got good plans for me, and that picture books will be a part of that. ​
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I am represented by Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary Management.