Union organizer. Soviet poetry translator. Failed method actor. Passionate middle school teacher. Guinea pig mom.
I don’t come from a typical writing background. But then again, my background allows me to move with a unique perspective and gratitude for the work I do.
I was always amazed by what stories could do.
I grew up near Washington, DC, where my mother sang in the opera chorus and my father collected antique multilingual literature. I found myself drawn to musicals and Russian literature, which aren’t as disparate as they seem. During my junior year of college, I attended a conservatory in Russia. After enduring a challenging winter of disapproving stares, I realized acting wasn’t my calling.
Determined to find my true passion, I ventured out west with three friends in a Toyota Camry I moved out west and discovered writing was my true passion. Writing and the teaching of it became the highlight of my career. I have taught over a thousand students across various settings from middle schoolers to groups of adults with ALS.
