Biography

I grew up in Livingston, New Jersey. I then began college at Boston University. After my father passed away, I moved with my family to Southern California and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in sociology. While raising three small sons I read a lot of literature. This motivated me to return to college and major in English. I decided to attend graduate school at California State University, Pomona, where I eventually received a Master’s Degree in English. I was particularly interested in the British Victorian author Thomas Hardy. I entered a doctoral program in Victorian studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter and eventually received a PhD in English. I have presented a number of papers at Thomas Hardy conferences in Dorchester, England and my essays on the author have been published in scholarly journals. I taught English at Southern Oregon University and other colleges in the Pacific Northwest. I have enjoyed writing short stories and many have been published in literary journals. I decided to combine an interest in history with my desire to write a novel. I have been particularly interested in the World War II period, a time of tremendous cruelty and also a time of endurance and heroism. I also am involved in organizations promoting animal welfare and environmental protection. I now live with my husband in Portland, Oregon.