About Me

Spending most of my days alone as a child, I developed a strong sense of creativity that was often channeledinto writing stories. We lived on one acre of land in Canton, MI, which was my endless source of inspiration. On our property, I had two favorite spots. First, I would play in a swamp and pretend to be an explorer in the Amazon Rainforest. And secondly, I loved to sneak under a fence at the very end of the lot and hike up this giant hill that would be my Mount Everest. After my outdoor excursions, I would retreat to my bedroom with a journal and describe the natural aspects of the world around me.  Years later, in 8th grade, I would take my first Earth Science class and learn that the "swamp" and "mountain" I had written about so often were, in fact, a sewage retention pond and a landfill. Heartbroken, my pursuit as a young environmentalist prompted me to study further and to write about conservation initiatives for our junior high magazine. I would then go on to serve as the Editor of my high school paper (Wayne Memorial), community college paper (Henry Ford), and college paper (University of Michigan).  While I initially wanted to major in journalism in college, I soon realized that writing came easily to me, and the pursuit seemed less of a challenge than studying science.  I would go on to major in Environmental Science/Geology at University of Michigan, Geoscience at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Geology at Kent State University. 

My approach to writing is unique. I was one of those rare individuals who found writing their thesis just as enjoyable as field work and laboratory analysis. The detailed revisions from my advisor at UNL, Dr. Sheri Fritz, honed my scientific writing skills, which would later support my career as a professor for nearly 20 years.  At Berry College, my colleague Dr. Julie Pynn taught me a distinct approach to writing grants. She emphasized the use of buzz words, the creation of a sense of urgency, and the crafting of clever acronyms (e.g., Students of the Lake Victoria Environment or S.O.L.V.E.). This strategy not only made my grant proposals stand out but also made the process more enjoyable.

My first book was published in 2020. Having led study abroad trips to Iceland for over a decade, I developed a deep understanding of the country's geology. I would compile my own lectures and course readings from peer-reviewed publications because there was not a comprehensive book that synthesized the island's tectonics, volcanics, or glacial features. So, when organizing my trip in 2017, I looked down at my notes and thought, "I should write a book." I then attended a Geological Society of America conference and met with an editor from the publication company, Wiley. A quick 15 months later, I had written Iceland: Tectonics, Volcanics, and Glacial Features that would go on to be a best-seller for three years in a row (2020, 2021, 2022), an Association of American Publishers PROSE Finalist in the Natural Science Category, and to-date, the book remains the all-time highest downloaded monograph for the American Geophysical Union series. Despite teaching a full-course load and conducting international research, I maintained a dedicated writing schedule. On average, I would research/read/write 4 days a week for 20 hours.  And I loved every minute of it. The five-hour blocks of time allowed me to enter an incredible flow state. On a good day, I would write four pages; on a slow day, I would write only one. My goal, which I exceeded, was to complete one chapter per month.  The best part of this project was filling in my personal knowledge gaps, which aligns with my mentor, Bruce Conn, from Berry College, telling me, "You're not an expert before you write the book, you are an expert after you write the book." Each night, I would go to sleep with a question on my mind and wake up eager to search for the answer. 

In completing my first book, I rediscovered my passion for writing. I felt like I had come full circle from when I was a child, writing in my bedroom for fun. Additionally, with the success of Book 1, I knew that others would follow. Oxford University Press approached me to write "Volcanoes: What Everyone Needs to Know" (VEWNTK), and I jumped at the opportunity. This book took me 13 months to complete, sticking to a similar writing schedule as Book 1. For VWENTK, I relied on the introductory geology course material that I had carefully crafted over two decades of teaching in the classroom. Next, I posted on social media, "What questions do you have about volcanoes?". From this request, I received some great leads." How loud is a volcanic eruption?" "Why do some eruptions have lightning storms?" "What is a super volcano?" "How do animals respond to eruptions?". I used these questions to shape the content of the book, demonstrating my ability to connect with readers and address their interests.

Amid writing Book 2, I realized that I wanted nothing more than to become a full-time science writer. For me, 17 years of teaching undergraduate courses began to feel redundant, and I was aware that Artificial Intelligence would eventually replace classroom professors. My wonderful husband crafted a plan that allowed us to move to Atlanta, where I could chase this new dream. I am now living my best Carrie Bradshaw life (see Sex in the City) by spending my days writing in cafes, on outdoor patios, and in the park.

What will be my next book? I have begun writing another monograph on the advanced geological concepts of Costa Rica. Like the format of Iceland: Tectonics, Volcanics, and Glacial Features, this book will be divided into three parts. I will focus on the country's Tectonics, Volcanics, and Fossil Record. Why Costa Rica? I chose this country because I spent two years researching the country's hydrology  as a Fulbright Research Scholar. The purpose of my study was to collect baseline water quality data for all national parks and Forest Reserves, understanding that without clean water, biodiversity cannot thrive. Through this research, I collaborated with the National University to gain a deep understanding of geology, which I will convey in my next monograph. 

And don’t worry, my memoirs are not too far off in the distant future.