I am a recovering perfectionist. When I was a teenager one of my teachers told me he was glad he didn’t have to measure himself by my yardstick. I didn’t know what he meant. I couldn’t be a perfectionist, I reasoned. I didn’t do anything perfectly. But that’s the point, isn’t it? A perfectionist never thinks they do things well enough. That’s kind of the definition of a perfectionist.
I was in college before I realized I was dyslexic. Turns out It runs in the family. Who knew? Unfortunately, low self esteem goes hand in hand with having a brain that works differently.
So, while I didn’t do anything perfectly, I had gotten very, very good at beating myself up!
Now, I find myself writing for that kid in me. The kid who was shy and insecure and didn’t feel very good about herself. I also write about turning points, when all seems lost and then is found, when what’s ugly becomes beautiful, when despair becomes hope, when a kid finds the value in themselves.
I have seven published books, which you can find out more about here.
I’ve been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for most of the last 36 years.
Along with amazing writers Debby Dahl Edwardson and Marion Dane Bauer, was I co-founder of the LoonSong Writers Retreat held for four fabulous years at Elbow Lake in upstate Minnesota.
I have run workshops and taught courses on writing for children and given presentations in colleges, schools, libraries, and convention halls.
I worked for public libraries for 28 years getting books and information into the hands of patrons. It was the best job ever!
I worked for several newspapers in New England as a reporter, photographer, and editor.
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