In the beginning...
For as long as I can remember I have loved words. As a child I loved how they sounded when I talked, and I loved reading stories that transported me to magical places. I’ve been an insatiable reader since elementary school. My favorite place: the library. By the time I reached high school, I knew deep down inside that I wanted to be a writer. So, I took as many English and creative writing classes as I could fit into my schedule.

The overwhelming fear...
After graduation, I took my first “real” job, in accounting. Yes, accounting. Why? Because I didn’t really think or believe I could write. I didn’t think of myself as creative, imaginative, or having anything interesting or important enough to say that other people would read. Looking back, I took that accounting position because I was afraid to fail at my real dream of being a writer.

Despite a string of jobs in the accounting field during the 1980s, I continued to write, keep a journal, and read lots of books. I often wished I was good enough to be a real writer. Meanwhile, I took lots of business classes at the local community college, so I could get a promotion.

The defining moment...
Then one day, a writing professor encouraged me to write an article for the campus newspaper. After seeing my words and name in print, I was hooked! A tiny seed of hope was planted that maybe someday I could be a writer.

I submitted editorial letters to the local newspaper, joined a writer’s group, attended workshops, read lots of books on writing, and entered writing contests. I was blown away every time I saw my words in print. I even received third place for one of my stories.


Growing up...
These little victories gave me the courage to start a small local publication. For the next eight years I wrote and published, Carroll’s Child, every month. To my amazement, my readership grew from 2,000 to 12,000, and the size of the publication increased from 4 pages to 30 or more pages per issue. I finally believed in my ability to write.

After the birth of my second child, managing the publication became too much work for me. I was approached by the local newspaper to sell them my publication. But, I couldn’t sell my “baby,” so I put Carroll’s Child to rest in 1999 when I moved 125 miles away.

A few years later while I was working at a college, I stumbled onto life coaching. A lifelong student of human development and personal growth, I was very excited about this new field. I went on to study life coaching and earned my certification and started my own practice, A Great Solution. I really enjoyed coaching and empowering other people to realize their dreams and reach their goals.


Dreams really do come true...
Ultimately, I realized I could marry my passion for writing with my love of coaching and my twenty-five years of business experience all into one fabulous, dream career! Now I am coaching other self-employed women to:

* Build and strengthen their writing confidence and skills

* Develop their own writing voice

* Write promotional pieces that capture their knowledge, expertise
and wisdom

* Confidently self-promote and market their business (with little or
no budget)

* Create information products that earn them passive income

* Grow themselves, their businesses, and realize their dreams!

When I am not writing or coaching I enjoy:
Spending time with my family and pets, feeding the squirrels in my backyard, curling up with a good book, browsing for books to add to my own library, cooking and baking, learning new things, exploring my creativity, duckpin bowling, and soaking in a bubble-filled bath tub.