As an author, screenwriter, speaker, publisher, and photographer, I am thrilled to have you visit my website!
A little bit about me…
Having been born and raised in Georgia, I love all things southern – grits, “y’all,” and that famous southern drawl. After graduating from Emory University, I followed my sister to Texas and a year later had an MBA in hand from Southern Methodist University.
I worked as a financial analyst, dabbled in golf, and a few years later met my husband, Eric. In 2000, we moved to Arizona and I fell in love with all things desert – saguaros, prickly pears, the laid-back people, and learning to say “But it’s a dry heat!”
It was during my years in Arizona that I became a professional photographer, capturing the world through the lens of a camera and winning several awards along the way. My photos have been featured on CD covers, appeared in Nature’s Best Photography magazine, and have been award-winners in the Windland Smith Rice International Awards. At gallery shows, I soon found I loved telling people about the photos and the crazy stories behind them and realized my inner storyteller was yearning to be set free.
After a move back to Texas, I started writing books and joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). My books include the Miss Muffet & Bitsy series and historical novel Moon Tears. Additionally, I write contemporary romance for the adult market under the pen name, Cadia Cox. I began speaking to various groups and school about writing and how my stories came to be.
More recently, I have focused on crafting family-friendly screenplays. Please see the Screenplay tab for more info!
If you are interested in scheduling an author visit or other speaking engagement, please click here for more information.
And in case you were wondering…
I have two tuffets, love curds and whey (a.k.a. cottage cheese – yummm!), and although I still harbor a fear of spiders to this day, I do safely rescue any critters I find inside and relocate them to the nice, green, leafy bushes outside my front door!
Here are a few of my favorite things…
Sneaking as much chocolate as I can
Curling up with a good book
Watching Christmas movies
Getting lost in the Smithsonian
Space Shuttles
Roller coasters and other fast things
Escaping to the ocean
Tennis
Hats
Disneyland
Arizona
Saguaros
Dogs– any kind!
Cats – any kind!
Horses – any kind!
Guinea pigs – any kind!
Turtles (sea and land) – any kind!
Texas
Travel – any kind!
… you get the idea!
And a few things you might not know about me (drumroll please!)…
I always wanted a hammock but thought it had to be outside until I read a book about someone who had one inside her house. Now so do I, and it’s my favorite “thinking” place, not to mention the most popular spot in my house!
Several years ago, I appeared in seven Stein Mart national television commercials, one of which highlighted several of my photographs!
Also, I played competitive tennis in my younger days, and last year (thanks to my sister!) I was able to play with my all-time favorite tennis player, my tennis idol, Mats Wilander!