Hello!

Welcome to my corner of the world. I’m a memoirist, humorist and actual mom. I live with my husband outside of Minneapolis, MN. The children we raised are all grown and reside in several time zones. Growing up, they provided me with lots of material as a humor writer. These days, they prefer to have me mine my own life for blog posts. I guess there are these things called boundaries, and I can respect that.

My memoir is now published. You can purchase a signed copy, (including some personal swag from yours truly) from this website under The Second tab or wherever you find an Order Your Copy button. Paperback and Kindle ebook versions may be purchased through Amazon. Ebook sales are now exclusive to Amazon as of April 2023. The button for the BN print version is on The Second page as well.

I haven’t been there personally, but since the book is actually completed, Hell should have frozen over and look like a Minnesota lake in mid-January. I finally did it.

The Second is a story of creativity, humor and resilience. With long odds, my marriage is buffeted by mental illness and emotional infidelity. This leaves us both strengthened and committed, in a variety of ways. It has been my goal for many years to describe the perspective of a person in and outside of the devastating symptoms of bipolar disorder. There are text books written by healthcare providers and some very well-written accounts by spouses, but a first-hand book written by someone whose mind has completely betrayed them is relatively rare.

The book deals with some pretty intense subjects. I’ve tried to infuse the narrative with a bit of humor to soften the impact. I wanted to explore the topics to help women who have had the same questions. It’s important to keep seeking answers, despite poor care or advice. If you have any questions or emotions bubble up because of topics covered in The Second, I urge you to advocate for yourself and seek competent professional advice.

Books have fascinated me since I mastered Sammy the Seal by Syd Hoff at age four. Some of my fondest memories as a child were visits to the William Telling Mansion, which at the time was converted to a library near my home in Lyndhurst, Ohio.