I am a young adult/middle grade writer currently querying a contemporary YA novel that I had critiqued at the Highlights Foundation's Whole Novel Workshop: Middle Grade and Young Adult 2016. I have also been revising some short stories and outlining my next novel. I also enjoy reading (of course!) and running. I live north of Pittsburgh.Writing achievements so far:I have won first place in the 2017 ICL Middle Grade Adventure Fiction Contest for a short story, first place in the children's literature category of the 2013 Writers-Editors Network International Writing Competition for a teen short story, and honorable mentions in the 2010 and 2006 CNW/FFWA Florida State Writing Competition for children's short stories.However, my first love is novel writing. The first chapter of my completed manuscript, The Disappearance of Robbie Tay, won third place in the juvenile category of the 2009 Willamette Writers Kay Snow Writing Contest. I have also completed two courses with The Institute of Children's Literature: Writing for Children and Teenagers in 2008 and Writing and Selling Children's Books in 2010.