I didn't start writing creatively until I was nearly 40, and then it was fast and furious! This past year (2013) I've had three books published—one novel and two poetry collections. My first novel, "The Other Room," released with Owl Canyon Press in October. My first full-length poetry collection, "Plum(b)," came out in March with Main Street Rag Press. And my second poetry collection, "Hadestown," just launched in November from WordTech Communications. Needless to say, it's been a very good year! My very first poetry book — "bathe in it or sleep" — won the Main Street Rag Chapbook Award and was published in 2008. I have also either won or been shortlisted in many national competitions, including Winner, 2010 Ibbetson Street Poetry Award First runner-up, 2011 Anabiosis Press Chapbook Award Finalist, 2007 Philbrick Poetry Award Finalist, 2008 James Jones First Novel Fellowship Finalist, 2012 Backwaters Press Poetry Books Award Finalist, 2012 42 Miles Press Book Award Semi-Finalist, 2008 Black River Chapbook Competition Semi-Finalist, 2008 Parthenon Prize for Fiction Semi-Finalist, 2011 Cinnamon Press Novel Award Semi-Finalist, 2011 Lexi Rudnitsky First Book Prize Semi-Finalist, 2012 Word Works Washington Book Award I am also the editor/creator of the anthology, "Poets for Haiti: An Anthology of Poetry and Art" (Yileen Press, 2011), a volume which grew out of a benefit event I co-organized and co-chaired involving numerous prominent Boston-area poets. I have been published widely in literary journals and anthologies here and abroad (Prairie Schooner, Women Arts Quarterly, Salamander, Main Street Rag, Atticus Review, Poetry Salzburg Review, Albatross, Poetry International, etc). I am a graduate of Brown University and live with my husband and two dogs in the Boston area. I am available for guest author visits in the Boston area and via Skype elsewhere.