Currently, I am revising and polishing three picture book manuscripts with guidance from my SCWBI critique group, as well as input from industry professionals. PENNY PLANS A PARK: A STORY ABOUT REPURPOSING (500 words) is about how far a nine-year-old girl will go to make something old out of something new and create community in the process. Penny Carpenter is obsessed with turning trash into something exciting and unexpected. When the neighborhood park gets demolished, Penny promises to build a new playground entirely out of trash and soon figures out that constructing playground equipment might be her biggest challenge yet. Inspired by trips to local electronic recycling events with my kids, PENNY attempts to explore the ways that kids can make an impact on the environment in creative, empowered, and fun ways.

DOGLESS DOUGLAS (500 words) is another story about a determined, some might say, obsessive kid. It’s about the lengths a dog-obsessed boy will go to in order to convince his parents to get his dream pet. After many demands for a dog and sometimes obnoxious schemes to change the minds of his parents, Douglas discovers something unexpected – a friendship with a cat-obsessed neighbor girl named Catless Cathy. As soon as Douglas makes this connection, he discovers that getting a dog isn’t as important as he once thought.

NO FUN DAY! (550 words) is a comedic fantasy set in the world of Calendarland, a place where all the days, months, and holidays are fully embodied people. The story centers on Monday, by far the moodiest day of the week. On most Mondays, the world complains about Monday. And Monday has just about enough of people calling him No Fun Day. To stop the world from bullying him, he tries to switch places in the week with Tuesday, but is told no. Monday then tries to turn himself into a new month, then a new holiday. When those plans fail, Monday decides that changing his name must be the answer — only he needs permission from the seasons to do so. Ultimately, Monday goes on a journey that will lead him to a newer place of self-acceptance – no matter what the world says.

I am also in the outlining and character development stage of a middle grade comedic mystery that will draw upon my love of sports, mysteries, small towns, characters who are flawed, but sympathetic, and female leads who are quirky, brilliant, and fearless. Inspired by coaching girls’ softball teams in a small town and maintaining a lifelong love of mysteries, this novel, with a working title of THE SOFTBALL SLEUTH, will feature a strong and memorable lead and draw on the rich history of the cozy mystery, only with a focus on sports and comedy. I plan to have a finished manuscript by summer of 2025.

My previous professional writing credits include the “Hot-n-Ready Talker” ad campaign from Little Caesars. Watch the spots below.