Writer, Teacher, Historian
Across oceans and centuries, my novels follow characters changed by events as drastic as a plague or as small as a thought. I love history, especially those periods, like the sixteenth century, that changed man’s entire way of thinking. I’ve spent years understanding this era, and my novel Line of Ascent is about a man and a woman caught in history’s grip.
My stories are important, but so are yours. I founded the Village Writing School to teach people how to write their stories in the most engaging way. When I’m speaking at a conference on the power of words or teaching a workshop on subtext, I’m thinking how important some of the stories in that audience may be.
Beyond writing and teaching, I try to be a good person because the greatest act of creation is to fashion a beautiful life.
I learned the magic of words from my grandmother, Beulah Evans, a self-taught lover of literature. Together, we read every book that the bookmobile delivered over dirt roads to our remote Ozark mountain home.
But I chose a practical path, and although my work won awards in the University of Arkansas creative writing program, I received an MBA and spent a decade in accounting and marketing with a national company.
My first novel was bought by Simon & Schuster and was based on the life of my great-grandfather.
I am the founder and director of The Village Writing School, an independent creative writing program with classes in three cities. I have also taught at various universities; started a literacy council and an ESL school; started, grew and sold my own company; been active in global aid and education; and served on various foundations.
Deciding it was time to get serious as a novelist, I received my MFA in 2010. Since then, I have written two novels weaving modern narratives with those of the sixteenth century.
You can read more about my education and experience on LinkedIn.
If you would like me to speak at your event or organization, more information is here.
You can read some of my writing in the following places:
