Who Am I?

For the purposes of the Black Bear Writing Retreat, I am a typical writer! I’ve been writing creative nonfiction since 2003, with my first publication in 2005. I started my narrative travel blog in 2010. I began pitching narrative nonfiction in 2020, with my first publication in 2021. My essays have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and recognized in the Best American Essays anthology. I have been a finalist and winner in several writing competitions. I’ve been a part of numerous writers groups, circles and programs over the years and have worked consistently with an editor since 2005. I was accepted to two artist’s residencies in 2019 and 2020, applying as a writer and photographer.

The focus and passion of my life is international travel. But I also love my backyard — both my actual backyard and my wider, figurative backyard. Lots of wildlife visits me at home, and my husband and I spend our summers and autumns exploring the extensive network of 4×4 roads near us, exploring nature and ruins of the 19th- and early 20th-century mining era. I write literary essays and travel articles. I also exhibit travel photography. An easy way to learn more about me is to visit my trio of websites below.