bio

After giving up career aspirations of being a mermaid (unfortunate lack of fin), circus acrobat (unfortunate lack of coordination), and Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader (don't ask), I was frankly at a loss about what to do with my life. My friend Steve (a creative director in my hometown, Jackson, MS, and one of the funniest human beings alive) told me I should think about being a copywriter. And so I go, "What? One of those people who patents things?" But he set me straight, helped me immensely, and basically saved me from abject poverty. I mean, how else is a writer going to survive?

So I went to Los Angeles where I spent about eight years in all kinds of agencies from medium-sized to extra-small. During that time, I wrote everything from local newspaper ads to national television spots for a variety of clients, including IHOP, The Los Angeles Times, The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel, Whole Foods Market, and Relax the Back. But as it turns out, I have little tolerance for gridlock, relentless sunshine, and extravagant wealth (unless, of course, I'm participating).

So in late 2003, I moved to Seattle and began freelancing full time to allow myself more time to work on The Great American Novel (and, yes, to sleep late and hang out at coffeehouses). And just so you know, I'm not going to suddenly become unavailable when the next job comes along. I left my last "real" job in LA. This is my job now. If only I could convince my sister that I actually do work.