I was raised in the Midwest with traditional family values. I have the same BFF today as I did in high school! I spent a lot of time moving as a child because my dad got transferred for his job. However, most of my childhood was in the suburbs of the Midwest, Overland Park, KS.

My parents were professional middle-class working individuals. They provided a comfortable life for their family. My father was an engineer who retired after a 40-year career with the railroad. It was shortly after his retirement that he became ill. My mother had a 20+ year career in nursing and is now enjoying retirement. I have two sisters and many nephews & nieces.

In 2016 my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and my world was turned upside down. Journaling & blogging became a healthy outlet for me to deal with my grief and subsequently caused me to write my first book, ‘The Long Goodbye’.