I was born in the Midwest and grew up in the South. I've lived abroad and now reside in North Carolina in striking distance of mountains and beach. Nature is important to me. Continually in search of a moral universe, I think mainly about philosophy, ethics, and religion. Writing is how I coalesce my thinking and cope with uncertainty. It’s also fun. Long walks and jogs while listening to poetry, music, and podcasts help keep me sane. A former journalist, I get energy from talking to people in a room (one reason the pandemic was difficult for me). I write in the mornings for no more than two hours. The year I took off to write full time was a disaster; I got pretty good at horseshoes and feeling depressed. Writing is an important part of my life, but it is not more important than the other elements. Family time, communing with nature, and collaborating with co-workers to serve others are just as important. I believe that art should serve life, and, for that to happen, life must be at the center of it all. In May 2021, I released my first mystery novel: Soft Hearts: A Rett Swinson Mystery. Book Two, Slumbering Beasts, is due out in 2022, and I’m already thinking about Book Three.