Reality Rocks

Some people think nonfiction is boring with a capital snooze. But reading nonfiction doesn't have to lull you to sleep.   In fact, most of today's nonfiction books use compelling, real-life stories to creatively convey all types of fascinating information. That's one of the reasons I love writing stories about REAL people, places and things.

    "More than 200 bones hold our bodies together, and each one tells a story.  Some reveal our height. Some divulge our race and sex. Some even share information about foods we've eaten, limbs we've broken and diseases we've suffered.
 
     Not every bone tattles freely, however.  Some bones say more than others.  But they all tell their secrets to the few who speak their language . . . "

                             - from The Bone Detectives
                             (Little, Brown and Company )                               Photo of Dr. Charney by Charlie Fellenbaum


Now bones may not exactly be your idea of exciting.  But put a few into the skilled hands of Dr. Michael Charney, and they're hard to resist!  His work with skulls and skeletons have helped police solve cases involving murder mysteries. After meeting with Dr. Charney at his lab in Colorado, I thought,  "How can I NOT write about Dr. Charney and his work?"   A few years later my first book, The Bone Detectives , was born.


Writing roots

Growing up in Massachusetts, I always wanted to know the who, what, where, when, why and how of things.  In elementary school, I enjoyed reading mystery and science books, and as I grew older my curiosity and love of words heightened.  To weave the two together, I joined my junior high and high school newspaper staffs.  There I found wonderful excuses to talk to people and share their stories with others. I'll never forgot the wave of satisfaction that washed over me when a teacher complimented one of my more creative pieces.

That feeling returned years later when I wrote a feature article for the Boston Globe about the life of a deaf man who was misdiagnosed as mentally ill.  The response was so positive, I forgot all about my plans to be a
child psychologist.  Soon after, I began graduate studies in journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder.  Eventually, I accepted a features writing and editing position at a local newspaper. It was during this time
that I met the "bone detective" and began digging up information about his work as a forensic anthropologist.

Today, I live in Colorado with my husband Charlie, my son Christopher and our dog Shadow.  I love reading, writing, running, gardening, listening to music, hiking in the mountains, and traveling with my family.  I'm also crazy about dogs -- especially my lovable little Shadow, who has been through a couple of major knee operations in the past few years and is still going strong!



                         Then

What I wanted to be when I grew up
A singer and songwriter

Best subjects in school
Reading and science

Favorite book
Ferdinand the Bull by Munro Leaf

Most embarrassing moment
When my front tooth fell out while I was eating an apple!

Scariest moment
Almost drowning when I was 10 years old

Person I most admired
My grandmother, who I called "Sitto."
Her heart was filled with love.



                         Now

Best thing about being a writer
Meeting interesting people, traveling to fun places and writing about fascinating topics.

Most difficult thing about being a writer
Writing the first draft!

Favorite Children's Books
I enjoy many books, but my all-time favorites are Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt and
The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Greatest wish
To make a difference in the world through my writing.

Person I most admire
My Sitto.  Her love still touches my life everyday, and I know she's watching over me.


Favorite Quotes

Fun Quotes