I'm a family first, artist, writer, historian, and independent soul—just as my mother would have said. With roots in the Black Mountains of North Carolina, my view of the world has always been a little different.

I fell in love with painting as a teen, which led me to the Governor’s School of North Carolina and Wake Forest University, where I studied Studio Art. Along the way, I discovered that art is a pathway through the human experience, either following history or challenging it.

My career has spanned historic preservation, nonprofit leadership, and storytelling. From managing lighthouses and museums to writing about the places I’ve helped protect, my work blends creativity with a deep respect for history.

My love for Western North Carolina and Georgia, where my family lived, fuels much of my passion. My life in St. Augustine, Florida, has been a rich one. Here I built a family with a Florida boy with Bahamian roots and had three amazing children who regularly challenge me to add more layers to my perspective.

I'm honored to have received the National Trust for Historic Preservation Award for my role in the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 and to have served in various leadership roles supporting museums, non-profits, history, and culture.

I’m currently editing my first novel, Over Home, exploring my Yancey County ancestors—Southern Unionists during the Civil War, rascals through and through.

Alongside that, I'm working on a watercolor and oil series celebrating trout and wildlife, emphasizing the importance of celebrating and protecting the natural world, as it shrinks around us.

When I’m not writing or painting, I enjoy museums, travel, and thrifting. Our family, including our two rescue dogs, Dougal Mac Dougal and Belly Belle. We split our time between St. Augustine, FL, and Ellijay, GA.

I’d love to share more—feel free to reach out!