About
I began pecking away on an old manual typewriter in childhood and never stopped. My work explores things that tend to divide us, so that we might wrestle our way into deeper understandings of ourselves and others.
I have authored or edited eleven books in multiple genres, including historical fiction, memoir, and poetry. My latest book is Staying Power: Writings from a Pandemic Year (2021). Other recent titles include For the Sake of One We Love and Are Losing: A Meditative Poem & Journal; Beneath the Same Stars: A Novel of the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War; and Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poetry (co-edited with Ruby R. Wilson).
I have also published four music albums: Beautiful Is the Moon (2003), Friends (2006), Child of All Earth (2007), and ‘Tis a Gift: Christmas by Guitar (2009).
Born in 1962 in the farming community of Mt. Blanchard, Ohio, I eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (English, 1984) from Goshen College; a Master of Theological Studies (1987) from the Methodist Theological School; and a Master of Arts (English, 1993) from The Ohio State University.
I now live with my scientist-husband and two cats in a cozy 130-year-old house in Brookings, South Dakota. Son Nathan is my greatest joy.