More About Me

I am a seasoned journalist and writer, who brings curiosity, care, and professionalism to every project I take on.

For 30 years, I have been telling stories. I've penned magazine cover features, crafted in-depth profiles, tackled trending topics, created heartfelt essays, and written insightful book reviews for publications such as The Roanoker magazine, The Roanoke Rambler, Edible Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Country magazine, and Publishers Weekly. I have also written feature stories and worked as a staff writer for newspapers such as The (Raleigh) News & Observer, The Roanoke Times, and The Christian Science Monitor.

From 2021-2024, I expanded my skills by stepping into the newly created position of Communications Manager for the Roanoke-based nonprofit Local Environmental Agriculture Project (LEAP). In this role, I oversaw communications strategy for the staff and wrote a monthly newsletter. I also created posts for and maintained LEAP's website and social media accounts.

I have written monthly book reviews on topics such as food, travel, wellness, the outdoors, and parenting for Publishers Weekly since 2020.

When I write, I want to help readers understand the place, person, or event I’m reporting on as deeply as I can. My goal is always to get at the heart of the matter.

Over the years, I have worked in such far-flung places as Albania and Austria. I’ve written from Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Raleigh, N.C., penning stories about presidential races and poverty, and bringing to life the work of artists and chefs. Check out more of my writing in Published Work.

In 2006, I landed in Roanoke, Va., with a husband, a houseful of kids, and a yearning to learn more about this local food movement that was just beginning to blossom. You’ll see my love of gardening and cooking reflected throughout my website, especially in Recipes, where I share an ever-growing collection of favorite dishes.

I’ve been a sometime email newsletter creator since 2015. I’d love for you to subscribe to my latest offering, a free Substack featuring personal essays, reading recommendations, and recipes. Find archives of my previous endeavors under the Newsletters tab.

I have also taught online and in-person classes and am available for select writing and editing projects. Learn more about how we can work together on my Contact page.

Have a question or something you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by.