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Welcome!
As an author, I am inspired by the endless experiences in my life, from the trips to Europe to the birth of my children to the snide remark made by a family member. Each memory is drawn up in my head, creating this sort of mental and emotional collage of ideas. Then, if it feels right, I create a story to share with the rest of the world. Here, on this website, is where you will find a few of those stories.
I want to add that my life is multi-faceted as I’m sure yours are as well. We don’t fall into a single category of say, trauma or excitement or depression or happiness. We grow and our inspirations change over time, and that is why you will see I write in different genres. Below are the two books I’ve published so far and I hope to continue sharing my stories with you. Thank you for your support!
My memoir, Stretched follows my true story through the long aftermath of trauma, and how early abandonment and violence seep into identity and self-worth. Stretched depicts how hope can thrive in the face of incredible hardship and how pain can be transformed into resilience.
All proceeds I receive from the sale of Stretched through April 2026 will be donated to organizations that help victims of sexual abuse and others that help fund research for Alzheimer’s.
My novella, Not About Him, is a messy, funny, and painfully relatable story of friendship, boundaries, and one hard truth−sometimes the biggest problem in a relationship isn’t about him at all.
Available on Kindle and Paperback or free if you sign up for my newsletter below! For a SneakPeek of Chapter 1, click here.
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3 Signs You’re in a Toxic Relationship
Over the years, I’ve been in my share of relationships both toxic and…well…non-toxic. Looking back though, it wasn’t always apparent to me when I was in an unhealthy relationship, so I figured I would share some thoughts on what I’ve learned over the years.
And it’s true. I myself never actually believed I had been in an actual toxic relationship, but then, and after consulting (the obviously trustworthy) ChatGPT more recently, I now know I have been in at least two or three. And again, I am not a therapist, so any thoughts are my own…
…and ChatGPT’s.
Sign #1: Manipulation
Manipulation requires a sense of control from the manipulator. The thing about manipulation is that you probably won’t know you’re being manipulated unless someone else witnesses it and then spells it out clearly for you. And even then, you may not see it. Let me give you an example.
You’re on a beach listening to Nirvana…
You know what? Let me give you another example. (Read my book, Stretched, for reference).
You’re in your bedroom getting ready to go out with your other half for the night. You are excited, curling your hair perfectly or patting your face with aftershave (whatever you guys do). It’s 6:30pm and you’re supposed to meet up at 7pm. The next thing you know, you receive a text message.
“I can’t make it tonight. I’m sorry, but we’ll plan something for next week!”
You put your phone down because one, your heart is broken, and two, you don’t know what to say. A little while later, while the anger starts to build, you pick up your phone and write back.
“You really hurt my feelings. Can we talk?”
He or she responds – an hour later, of course – with, “Wow, you’re being really sensitive about this. It’s no big deal. I guess I’m just a terrible person then, huh?”
I think you get it.
Gaslighting falls into this category too. If you don’t know what gaslighting means (which I thought I did, but didn’t until it actually happened to me), just ask yourself, “Have I ever said, ‘am I overreacting’ or ‘did I remember that wrong’?” If your answer is “yes”, then you’ve probably been gaslit.
Sign #2: Going from Very Loving to Very Distant
This one is pretty self-explanatory. One minute, your S.O. is telling you how much they love your toenails…
…and the next, they have plans (without you) for the next 47 weeks. You keep questioning the relationship and you can’t figure it out. Do they want this relationship to work?
Spoiler alert: they don’t.
Sign #3: Disrespect for Boundaries
There was one time I went to dinner years ago with a friend of mine. We hadn’t seen each other in a while and had a very nice time but during the entire dinner, she would get text messages from her boyfriend, saying “Why aren’t you answering?” and “Who are you with?”
At the time, she thought it was cute. He showed her he was interested and made her feel loved. But then, it started happening every time she went out, and eventually, she ended things.
And I’m not going to write this post without saying I’ve been guilty of this in my younger years. I’m sure most people have been to an extent at some point in their lives. But if you recognize any of these signs in your current relationship, maybe it’s for the best that you not stay in it.
So, tell me, have you ever been in a toxic relationship? Comment below!
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What Heartbreak Taught Me at 32
I’m 43 years old now, but I look back at this diary entry from 2014, and it still resonates with me, so I’m adding it to my posts. Hope it resonates with you as well.
Here goes…
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Stuck
I was screaming. Metal bars encapsulated my head, and the yellow Golden Arches of McDonald’s were glistening in the sun high above me. People were gasping, children crying. The fire department raced in my direction, but before they were able to reach me, my mother had already covered my entire head in slick, greasy butter.
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The Mental Load
It was one morning in mid-December, and I asked my husband, “Sweetie, did you call your sister to tell her we aren’t going to make it for the Christmas party?”
“Oh, shoot, no. I’ll call her later today.”
And the mental load piles up.
