Although I currently reside in San Diego, California  with my husband, I grew up in the mountains of Tennessee where most of my immediate family still lives.  My mother has had numerous occupations and certifications but is primarily a medical assistant for a gynecologist. My father is retired after repairing track for many years for the railroad. He sketched and wrote short stories while I was growing up and began painting after he retired. His art work has been in many art shows and galleries. I have one baby sister. It was her that introduced me into the fantasy realm of authors such as Anne Bishop, Robin Hobb, Lynn Flewelling, Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, Elizabeth Haydon, etc. And now I'm forever addicted to the complete escape from reality they offer. I also have one beautiful little nephew that I miss terribly and think about daily.

My full time occupation is nursing. I'm a registered nurse. I love the staff I work with, and I especially love my patients.  I love providing patients with treatments that help them such as Electro-convulsive Therapy. I hope that one day mental health professionals get the respect they deserve from other areas of medicine that don't understand or only see the benefit of mental health professionals when they have a crisis.
 
Painting, like reading, is my escape from reality. I love to paint. I use to sketch more, but I realized that I love the vibrant color and the isolation painting offers me. I often paint in the middle of the night as that is when I seem to be the most creative. I enjoy nature so I paint a variety of scenes, but fantasy creatures are the subject of most of my paintings. Painting is a wonderful hobby. It's relaxing and satisfying, and that's something we all need more of.