One-Line Bio
Writer, book lover, walks dog, swims, dabbles in martial arts, routinely attacked by chickens and children.
Biography
Who and Where:
I am an American who met a South African while taking part of a study aboard program at University of Cape Town (UCT). After looking at the bureaucratic nightmare our love created, it seemed that the easiest route to “living in the same country” would be to move to the UK.
Obviously.
Since that time we’ve lived in various parts of the UK along with an eleven-month stint in Chicago. During our travels we wound up getting married twice (it's complicated) and acquiring two children (who maintain they're ours). Three months after the British government granted me my very own British citizenship, the whole family relocated to South Africa (August 2008, by the way).
Now we are here.
It’s interesting times.
I write between the chaos of family life: two kids, a dog named Orwell and five chickens. (The chickens are all Husband's fault.)
I also support Short Story Day Africa. My involvement with the initiative is growing. My hope is to eventually broaden the workshops inspired by these events. We shall see. Life is a process.
Writing is not easy for me. But it is my passion. I have a slight learning disability that makes spelling and grammar harder to execute accurately.
Then there are my physical challenges. I have loose ligaments which have begun to degenerate at an accelerated rate, compared to your normal ageing process. It has been exacerbated by numerous circumstances.
Life is about choices. I choose to write. So I've set aside my surf board, my knitting needles, a beloved ball-skills program and rarely get to play catch with my kids (but we can dance!).
My physio therapy focuses on a strict regime of swimming, long walks, tai chi and various stabilising exercises. I attend a dojo for MMA, mostly kicking a bag and air boxing, for stress relief.
I believe life isn't about being happy. It is about not giving up, acknowledging what is hard, giving what you can and working towards the wisdom of seeing the joy when and where it presents itself.
My Work:
Currently published is:
Moons Don’t Go To Venus – A novel published by Bateleur Books.
“What Matter’s Most” – (An essay) MotherVerse Spring 2007
“Gas Station Growing Pains” - Flashquake Fall 2007
“A Melktert Day” New Contrast Issue 146, 2009
"Alles van die beste" Wordsetc Third Quarter 2009
"Surfing for Jesus" Litnet February 2010
"Bobby Brown" Litnet July 2010
"3am" New Contrast Issue 150, 2010
"An Ever After" Botsotso October 2010
"A Letter from a Spinster (age 50) to a Gentleman (age 28)" itch March 2011
"Cordelia, age 26" The Edge of Things 7 2011
"The Birds of Promise" (essay) Wisdom Has a Voice 2011
