I have lifelong roots in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and more than two decades of teaching experience. One of my main achievements is producing and editing an anthology of my students’ writing, compiled over 10 years, on the Hannahville Indian Reservation where I taught high school English classes. There, I was immersed in the reservation community for 15 years, was invited to and attended ceremonies and learned the importance of storytelling, beadwork and honoring all life. I participated in native language classes for several years out of respect for my great-grandmother. I also served as the school’s oversight person for language instruction.

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I've presented workshops at the national meetings of Creating Sacred Places for Children, the  National Indian School Board Association, and the International Reading Association. 

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Other relevant work includes the publication of "Writing Power: Opening Doors to Self-Expression" in Winds of Change (published by American Indian Science and Engineering Society), lesson plan contributions to Creating Sacred Places for Children, and creating a Language Arts curriculum using Native Authors, grades 9-12, for tribes on the west coast under the direction of Dr. Sandra Fox. Additionally, I  worked with a traditional language instructor (Hannahville) to develop a Native American Literature class which we co-taught for several years. This class was also broadcast to other schools in the Upper Peninsula over the ITV Network. Other broadcast work includes facilitating the Hannahville Poets students and school principal interview on Native America Calling radio program, co-teaching the Rezz Radio program (produced at Hannahville Indian School/Nah Tah Wahsh PSA) using only Native American music.

I continue to freelance for several publications while writing additional Middle Grade novels about my favorite character, 13-year-old Cady, and the challenges she faces—and overcomes—while solving mysteries.

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