Plot Twist All Posts

Time is funny—especially as you get older. A lot of people ask me how long I’ve wanted to become an author, and my automatic answer is that it’s been a lifelong dream. And that’s absolutely true. But the more I think about it, the more I realize this dream didn’t happen overnight. It happened in pieces. In years. In numbers that quietly added up: 1980 : The year I was born. Writing would become a quiet, thoughtful thread that ran through my life—especially helping me cope wit

“Let’s go out to dinner tonight – you pick!” “What movie should we see?” “You choose the time and I’ll meet you there!” Our days are full of small, ordinary decisions, so it’s no wonder that being the decision-maker can sometimes feel impossible. Don’t get me wrong – I’m opinionated and passionate about plenty of things. But I’m also a people-pleaser who genuinely enjoys making my family and friends happy by going along with their top picks. When it came to my debut children’

When I tell people it took me a solid decade to take my manuscript from a rough draft to securing a boutique publisher with a release date on the horizon, their eyes nearly pop out of their heads. Some are even more astonished that I stuck with the project for so long – especially considering that, according to AuthorMedia.com , while only 15%  of American adults start writing a manuscript, only 3% to 6%  actually finish one. And, of those who do finish, less than 20%  go on

I’ve worked with a lot of celebrities over the years. When you spend more than a decade storytelling inside a supercenter – selling everything from groceries to sporting goods – you quickly realize two things: You’ve got a goldmine of products to promote, and even more opportunities for celebrity appearances. I’m not going to lie – meeting celebrities is thrilling. I’ve crossed paths with quite a few: Stacy London from TLC’s What Not to Wear ; NHL pro Justin Abdelkader; and e

Sometimes I feel a little silly. But not because I’m 45 and finally fulfilling my longtime dream of publishing a children’s book. No, I’m 100% proud of that and hope my leap of faith inspires others to do the same, especially my children. Rather, I feel silly sometimes because of the contrast between my joyful passion project and the career I’ve built around serious, often sensitive topics. This season of my life is all about balance: serious, corporate messaging and the sill

Over lunch, my mom recently asked me why I hired a book editor when I’ve been writing all my life. Her question caught me off guard, because I never thought of it that way.   Yes, I’m experienced. But I’ve never published or distributed a press release, social post or corporate response without getting another set of eyes on what I’d written. And that’s after several rounds of self-editing to make sure what I submitted was as polished as possible. After years of writing and r

I was born shortly after midnight. Once on my birthday, my mom told me she wasn’t the least bit surprised by my arrival time into this...

Long before I embarked on my #AuthorJourney, I was inspired by those who dared to carve their own path – not because it was easy, but...

My hunt for an illustrator  was a lot like finding that perfect outfit IRL that was inspired by your imagination. In short, a miracle!...

You know when you’ve curated the perfect outfit in your imagination – every detail just right – and then embark on what feels like an...

If you stay in PR long enough, you’ll inevitably be tasked with promoting a corporate marketing campaign. It’s just the way it is. The...

The path to finding my publisher  – yes, I have one! – was unique. But the more I think about it, the more I realize: no two journeys are...

When I said that writing my first children’s book over the span of a decade was just the beginning, I wasn’t kidding. Earlier this...

For those of you just joining my journey, let me start with this: it’s been my lifelong dream to become a published author. Scratch that...

I wholeheartedly believe in the transformative power of the written word. It informs, inspires, and ignites action. It builds goodwill,...

When I first started down this path to becoming a children’s picture book author, I didn’t know what to expect. But I can honestly say I...

When I was 13, I knew exactly what I was going to do when I grew up … become a newspaper journalist. At that ridiculously awkward time in...

I started my career as a newspaper journalist and then switched gears to enter the world of Public Relations. I used to sit in a...