I’m a reporter and essayist for adults, and write stories and poems for children. I’ve published a middle grade trilogy — the Anton & Cecil series — and currently write investigative news and human interest stories for local newspapers and magazines in and around Charlottesville, including the Crozet Gazette and C-ville Weekly.

News Reporting

I cover education, local government, and investigative reporting for the monthly Crozet Gazette newspaper in the town by that name just west of Charlottesville. I also write feature stories for Charlottesville’s alternative paper, C-ville Weekly, and human interest stories for C-ville’s slate of monthly and quarterly magazines on business, architecture, food and wine, and outdoor living. Here are links to some of my articles, several of which have won recent Virginia Press Association awards.

anton & cecil

A series of three novels for children, the Anton & Cecil books are about two brother cats who live in a shipbuilding town in the late 1800’s and who have fantastical adventures, first at sea, then by rail, and finally, aloft. Written together with (award-winning adult novelist) Valerie Martin and illustrated by the talented Kelly Murphy, the Anton and Cecil stories are about wonder, bravery, and the power of friendship.

Children’s Poetry

I love sly slant-rhyme schemes and am inspired by the greats — Lilian Moore, Karla Kuskin, Eve Merriam, and the amazing Valerie Worth. Many of my poems are about nature, and I hope the deep pleasure I get from fooling around with words comes through on these. The images are digital watercolors made from photos that seemed to suit the topic.