I am so thrilled to have my work included in the Writer’s on the Moon Project. It’s an amazing experience and I would like to thank author Susan Kaye Quinn and all those who made this possible. 

My mom taught me to read when I was only three and I’ve been devouring books ever since. I even started writing after an assignment in second grade. How the Raccoon Got His Mask was my first short story. And even though that was a very long time ago, my mom still has it. She loves to write poetry, so I’m fairly certain the writing gene came from her – even though my poetry is not nearly as good as hers. Fortunately, storytelling turned out to be a way to bring out my creative side.

I grew up reading Nancy Drew which I still love. By twelve I was reading Dean Koontz and Stephen King. It’s really no wonder that when I decided to write a book, I began with a paranormal (haunted house) novella. I then transitioned to zombies. But things took a turn for me after my dad passed away and then 2020 happened. Writing “dark” just wasn’t an option for a while.  So, I turned to something that made me feel good and made me laugh, although, I kept the paranormal aspect. I began writing my young adult paranormal cozy mystery series, Witches of Whispering  Pines. 

It seemed only fitting that I write about something I knew intimately – like living in small towns. I grew up in one and now only live a few miles down the road in another. I even went to college in a small town. I love the peace and quiet as well as the ability to get to know my neighbors and others around town. If you read cozy mysteries, you probably know that most have at least one quirky character if not more. The towns I’ve lived in have definitely had their share. And I love them! I also love the character and charm of small towns. 

I’m fortunate to have a close family. We love and support one another. That’s not to say we’re perfect as we’re anything but. However, I’m grateful to have them all in my life and to have been raised by loving parents, along with wonderful grandparents, aunts and uncles. 

The books I chose for this project each show a different aspect of my writing. I love reading different genres and I love writing them as well. I’ve never been able to just focus on one. There are so many wonderful books and story worlds out there to discover. While it’s impossible for most people to explore the entire world, reading opens up worlds that beg to be explored.

The first two books in my young adult paranormal cozy mystery series, Witches of Whispering Pines are A Witchy Mistake and A Witchy Surprise. They’re appropriate for ages 13+. The series is set in a fictional town in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Charley, the main character, is sixteen years old and comes from a long line of witches. When her powers haven’t manifested by the age of thirteen, she believes the witch gene skipped her. However, she begins to slowly come into her powers and struggles to control them – all while solving mysteries that threaten her family, friends, and townspeople. There’s also a touch of teenage romance.

Paranormal cozy mysteries as well as young adult books are two of my favorites, so I decided to combine the two for this series. And even though it’s set in a fictional town, I used my knowledge of having grown up in small towns and having lived in East Texas to make the land and the people come to life in a way they only can in small town USA.

I also submitted four short reads: The Consuming (paranormal – haunted house), Survival and Jenny’s Store (zombie apocalypse – both are set in the Survival world), and The Gift (a heartwarming family holiday read).