I spent my childhood voraciously reading books, scribbling stories, and taking the lead roles in my solo front porch stage plays. While a theatre major at Northwestern University, I fell in love with folktales and world travel. Later I spent a year and a half touring Spain and Portugal teaching ESL with the audience-participatory theatre company, Interacting. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories to school children in Haiti and Ghana, teach workshops to youth pastors in Guatemala and El Salvador and even perform street theatre in Puerto Rico and New York City. All of these experiences have made me passionate about building understanding and relationships across cultures while inspiring the imagination.Today I tell stories through my company, World of Difference Ltd., where I specialize in interactive multicultural folktales designed to engage audience members of all ages while promoting a love for learning and literacy. I also offer workshops, residencies and professional development on diverse aspects of storytelling and writing. When I’m not telling stories or acting them out with my kids, I’m busy writing them from my home office or a local library or coffee shop. I live in North Canton, Ohio with my husband, two sons and our rescue dog, Blitzen.My picture book, POLAR BEAR ISLAND, will be available October 2, 2018 from Sterling Publishing. Professional AffiliationsNational Storytelling Network (NSN) Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Teaching Artist with Arts in Stark.I am represented by Christa Heschke at McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency.