About Me
Quick Fun Facts
As an Educator
I am the founder of FitLit Kids, a child development organization whose mission is to provide the highest quality in educational programs that are focused on Fitness and Literacy … and sometimes both at the same time! We recognize the link between a fit body and a fit mind, and always strive to tap into children’s most powerful tools—their imaginations!
I’m a Director for Playball, an international sport and movement program that teaches children around the world. Our mission has remained the same for over 30 years: to improve children’s lives by instilling life-skills and building self-esteem in kids. We take a holistic approach to learning by creating a fun, sporty, environment that positively impacts our students’ on the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive levels. And our low-pressure, creative approach encourages boys and girls of all abilities to jump into the fun!
I developed Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative whose goal is to create lifelong readers by making picture books fun, interactive, and ACTIVE adventures. Utilizing ”The Whole Book Approach” from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, we create a collaborative reading experience that turns picture books into educational tools. We use characters and storylines as a launching pad to get students exploring ideas and the world around them.
As an Author
I have been writing for as long as I can remember … journaling vacations, penning poetic birthday cards, and scribbling silly stories. My high school counselor recommended I pursue poetry in college so, naturally, I studied computer science and statistics. That led to a career in technology, where my writing was mostly limited to emails, business requirements, and technical specs.
Fortunately, I had a baby girl, and promised her I would make reading together a top priority. Over endless hours in the children’s section of the library, I fell in love with picture books. Once hooked, I began scribbling silly stories again, this time for an audience of one.
Over the years, both my daughter and my love of books grew. I founded Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative with the goal of creating lifelong readers by making books come alive. And while I wrote articles for magazines and a newspaper, my passion remained with children’s literature.
My persistence and patience eventually paid off, as I’m now represented by the wonderful Jenna Pocius of the Red Fox Literary Agency. If you’d like to inquire about rights, licensing, or contracting me for a book, please email Jenna at [email protected].
You can read about my books here.
- I live in Fort Mill, SC, where my daughter still requests my stories on most nights.
- We share our home with Sammy, a ball python, Koda, a Siberian husky (both pictured on my Home page), Lucy, a king snake, and stacks of picture books.
- One of my true joys has been coaching my now-teen's soccer teams since they were six years old. I'm not in my 16th season (two seasons per year).
- I’m a lifelong Dolphins fan…thank you for your condolences.
- As a kid, I wanted to be a professional golfer.
- So, of course, I became a technology consultant.
- I’ve volunteered at wildlife sanctuaries, mostly working with big cats. I earned my stripes, so to speak, with two trips to the E/R, courtesy of a Siberian tiger and Florida panther.
- After deciding I wanted to try to make a difference, I began working with, and then writing for, kids. It’s the only career I can imagine that is better than being a professional golfer.
- I love running trails, and get many of my best plotline ideas by getting “lost” in the woods.
- I spend many a Friday night playing on a co-ed kickball team.
As an Educator
I am the founder of FitLit Kids, a child development organization whose mission is to provide the highest quality in educational programs that are focused on Fitness and Literacy … and sometimes both at the same time! We recognize the link between a fit body and a fit mind, and always strive to tap into children’s most powerful tools—their imaginations!
I’m a Director for Playball, an international sport and movement program that teaches children around the world. Our mission has remained the same for over 30 years: to improve children’s lives by instilling life-skills and building self-esteem in kids. We take a holistic approach to learning by creating a fun, sporty, environment that positively impacts our students’ on the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive levels. And our low-pressure, creative approach encourages boys and girls of all abilities to jump into the fun!
I developed Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative whose goal is to create lifelong readers by making picture books fun, interactive, and ACTIVE adventures. Utilizing ”The Whole Book Approach” from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, we create a collaborative reading experience that turns picture books into educational tools. We use characters and storylines as a launching pad to get students exploring ideas and the world around them.
As an Author
I have been writing for as long as I can remember … journaling vacations, penning poetic birthday cards, and scribbling silly stories. My high school counselor recommended I pursue poetry in college so, naturally, I studied computer science and statistics. That led to a career in technology, where my writing was mostly limited to emails, business requirements, and technical specs.
Fortunately, I had a baby girl, and promised her I would make reading together a top priority. Over endless hours in the children’s section of the library, I fell in love with picture books. Once hooked, I began scribbling silly stories again, this time for an audience of one.
Over the years, both my daughter and my love of books grew. I founded Reading Giraffe, a literacy initiative with the goal of creating lifelong readers by making books come alive. And while I wrote articles for magazines and a newspaper, my passion remained with children’s literature.
My persistence and patience eventually paid off, as I’m now represented by the wonderful Jenna Pocius of the Red Fox Literary Agency. If you’d like to inquire about rights, licensing, or contracting me for a book, please email Jenna at [email protected].
You can read about my books here.