My life is a roller coaster of ups and downs — almost ending before birth. At one month, my father lost his job. We moved to a new town. My parents started two businesses from the ground up.

At five, the city claimed our home through eminent domain. We rebuilt a new one in the countryside from a dilapidated root-beer stand. My childhood existed of tree forts, the river, fields of clover, baseball and dogs meshed with hard manual work with my parents.

I navigated through challenging relationships — my firstborn disabled, then losing two of my five children.

My life was held together by a simple  thread — writing.

Alone, I founded a business, fell in love with my best friend, and cherished moments with grandchildren while balancing the hardships of many deaths.

Writing remains my constant — a lifeline through depression, loss and cherished friendships promising new beginnings.