I began writing stories at an early age, and my mother's keepsake chest contains several tiny spiral-bound notebooks full of childish block-lettered tales. I spent much of my youth guiding friends on imaginary quests and rescues in the forests of central Massachusetts--I used to pretend I was Aragorn.After discarding other career options including archaeology and genetic engineering, I elected to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, intending to study fashion design and perhaps work for the theater, combining my interests in art and literature. Instead, I opted for a sculpture major where I created artworks based on the history of books and wrote an installation proposal no artwork could hope to live up to. While studying abroad in Italy, I acknowledged my inner drive and withdrew from school to work on a novel. Yes, I am an art school drop out.In the meantime, I worked creating animal mascot costumes for corporations and parades. During this time, I began writing The Singer's Crown, the third novel I started, and the second one I completed. In 1997, I founded Curious Characters, creating and marketing unique stuffed animals like greelings, hyffers, and the Amazing Zahnee! Part of the plan included a "storyletter," the Curious Times, where I told stories about the mythos of these creatures to introduce them to the public.Rekindling an old passion for poetry, I became a regular at a local coffee house open mike where I discovered a new passion: Edward, a fellow poet, who married me. We bought an old house, painted it mint green, and moved in two cats, two computers and a collection of masks from around the world. That same year, I attended the Odyssey Speculative Fiction Workshop where I learned to sculpt words into something stronger, bolder and better by far.After taking time to visit India, China, and Mongolia, Ed and I welcomed our daughter, Laurel. My husband is a software engineer and Laurel, now 5, is working on becoming an engineer or a fairy princess. In addition to soft sculpture, Curious Characters specializes in a line of light-hearted small-scale metal sculptures available at gift shops across the country. I write in a quiet office in my new green house, where I am free at any moment to leap into a new adventure.