I was the one who enjoyed writing papers in school. I loved figuring out how to word my thoughts. I was always more of a writer than a speaker. Put me in front of a group of people and I will stumble over my words, but give me a blank screen and I will tell you a story. 

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     In college, my Writing 101 professor pulled me aside to tell me I had a knack for writing and I should develop my style. I thought it was a nice compliment but it didn’t light a fire in me. 

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     Fast forward to the year of the plague, June 2020. I was reading a novel by Francine Rivers, and an overwhelming urge came over me… I wanted to write. It hit me like a sack of gluten-free flour. I sat down at my laptop and my first chapter took shape. The journey of my first novel was more treacherous than I could’ve possibly imagined. It had its ups and downs, but I appreciated every step of the way. 

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     When I’m not working on my novels, you’ll still find me sitting in my office writing short stories. I hope to have a collection published some day. Keep an eye out.

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     If my fingers aren’t typing on a keyboard, they’re snapping photos. If you see someone squatting down in a weird position, angling the camera in a contorted sort of way… it’s me. I’m fine. Just keep walking. 

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     I live in a part of the country which experiences all four seasons. Sometimes all of them in one day. Ah, that’s the nature of Ohio. While my irrevocable love for pumpkins and snowflakes is indestructible, inextinguishable, and everlasting, my loathing for the summer months is just as strong. If I could spend my entire life living October through December on repeat, I absolutely would. 

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     On a serious note, there is something I learned over the last several years that I would like to pass on. There are lessons to be learned in everything we do, everything we face. Every disappointment and every heartbreak is an opportunity to grow. We may never know the reasons certain things happen to us, but we can learn a lesson for next time. Strive to move forward. You never know what will grow from the ashes of your life.