I was born and grew up in Austin, Texas. I formerly taught AP Literature and Composition and Creative Writing at an international high school in Shanghai, China. Prior to that I had my share of adventures:• I was invited to accompany a group of herpetologists into the Sonoran desert of western Mexico to search for the elusive Desert Tortoise• Drove alone to and from Alaska a week after graduating from high school• Started a children's creative writing program my senior year of college that later became recognized by Laura Bush• Took out a loan and spent six months in New Zealand, where I hiked in UNESCO World Heritage sites, worked on farms and ranches, and held several creative writing workshops at a native university on the North Island• Was a finalist for the Elizabeth George grant for the second book of a YA series, and received letters of recommendation from several professional writers in support of the application (Sarah Bird, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, Jean Craighead George, others)Since moving back to Texas after my teaching career in China, I have resumed publishing stories and photos in national magazines, such as Boys'​ Life and Scouting. I also completed a Master's degree from Harvard Extension School while in Shanghai that I am eager to parlay into U.S. teaching work. That, and working on novel and screenplay projects so that I can move onto the path of a working creative writer. I have recently won my first audiobook contract, to narrate an educational work on beekeeping. I aim to build on it, and am excited at the prospect of making narration - and ultimately my own fiction - a full-time job.