When I was young there were seven of us sitting around the dinner table at night exchanging daily anecdotes and plenty of jokes. There was a lot of laughter going on, and I still love a good laugh. We lived in a number of small towns in Oregon, Washington, and Montana, which is probably why tall evergreens, majestic mountains and wide open spaces make me feel at home and often figure in my writing. I like to read (and listen to) various genres, including stories about how people meet and form strong bonds and relationships and manage the challenges they encounter, historical fiction, some science fiction, contemporary romance, and humorous stories. Over the years I have enjoyed the work of many writers, such as Ivan Doig, John Steinbeck, Jack Finney, Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and many more. I live in the Pacific Northwestern USA with George, my high school sweetheart whom I married in 1975. I can often be found at home, in the midst of forest and pastureland and a view of Mt. Hood in the distance, working on my next book!