“You never realize how far you’ve come until you’re asked to introduce yourself as a new author.

I was born in a small mining town in 1962 and left home at 17 to join the U.S. Army as a military police officer. Since then, I’ve raised a family across the world, worked as a 911 dispatcher, executive secretary, paralegal, deputy sheriff, and teacher. At 44, I graduated from the Sheriff’s Academy.

In 2019, I retired from law enforcement—but my story didn’t end there.

Now semi-retired, I split time between Arizona and Idaho, where I substitute teach, volunteer, serve on our local senior center board, and read to children at the library. I’m also a wife, mother, grandmother, veteran, and lifelong storyteller.

Publishing my first children’s book has been a dream come true. My stories are inspired by the everyday magic of family life—and through Hearthwise Tales, I hope to share that magic with others, one heartfelt story at a time.”