I’m also a complete book nerd, thanks to my parents. One rule at home was no television. Instead, my brothers and I were encouraged to read and learn about the world. When I wasn’t writing, I was reading. I’m a bit obsessive about books. I still have my copy of my favorite book Charlotte’s Web from when I was seven-years-old.
As part of our reading, my dad suggested National Geographic Magazine. Who knew that many years later I would end up working at National Geographic Learning? I worked there for almost nine years, first on language arts programs and then on social studies programs for grades K–12. No one day was ever the same—I could be reviewing pages for a student textbook one day and interviewing a National Geographic archaeologist the next day.
I studied broadcast journalism and communications with an English minor at Purdue University. My first job out of college was as an on-air personality for 107.9 WMRS, an open-format but mainly country and bluegrass station in the middle of nowhere Indiana. Because I wanted to eat and have a roof over my head, I left the world of radio for publishing.
Before National Geographic Learning, I spent about 15 years in trade and educational publishing. I created a wide variety of books and education programs, working from initial concept to final production. I’ve written about a wide-range of topics, from doll-making to Jacques Cousteau; developed and produced award-winning products; managed a stable of in-house editors and freelancers; edited a national best-selling book; directed photos shoots under tight budgets; and I got to interview two of my all-time heroes: Dereck and Beverly Joubert.
’m a versatile writer, editor, and content strategist. I specialize in information design for digital products. One of the best parts of my career as an editor, product developer, and manager is strategically putting together pieces and parts to tell a complete story.
When not reading or writing, I do yoga and gyrotonic, I practice meditation, I go to concerts, I watch 49ers football (and the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks), and I spend mindless hours researching on the Internet, usually anything about Game of Thrones. I love to travel and have been to 34 countries and 33 states … so far.