about
Once Upon a Time . . .
​Creativity runs in my family — my parents both earned master’s degrees in fine arts, and two of my three sisters are professional artists. For me, that path unfolded first through graphic design. I’ve spent over 35 years designing books and helping dozens of authors bring their projects to life.
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Pictured here with my sister, Lora, ages 4 and 5.
Chapter One
My first book, The Language of Gifts: The Essential Guide to Meaningful Gift Giving, was published in 2000 by Conari Press (now Red Wheel/Weiser). A few months later, it was picked up by Gramercy, a division of Random House, and released in a hardbound edition. The book’s debut led to dozens of newspaper and magazine interviews (before podcasts!), plus a seven-city morning show television tour. That whirlwind sparked my passion for creating books that connect meaning with everyday life.
Plot Twist: Art
After my mother—an amazing artist and professional illustrator—passed away twelve years ago, I felt a pull to return to art more personally. I began taking online classes and slowly shifted toward art-based projects of my own. In 2018, I wrote and illustrated Disneyland Wisdom, originally released through an independent press. During the 2020 Covid lockdown, I designed, painted, and installed the Peace Pickets, later producing three companion books about the project. In 2021, I began my land art series—ephemeral pieces shaped in 1–2 hours, sometimes prepared, sometimes spontaneous along a walk.
The Story Grows
Today, I’m mostly retired from graphic design client work, choosing only the projects that delight me. My focus now is on art, public installations, and a new adventure: fiction. My debut novel, The Roses Spoke First, is forthcoming.
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Away from the studio, I recently celebrated 35 years of marriage, and some of my happiest days are spent at Disneyland with my grown children—proof that creativity and play are lifelong companions.
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