A FEW MORE FACTS:

I currently reside in Napa, California but I love traveling and I'm constantly battling a bad case of wanderlust that I can't satiate. Some of my favorite places include:

• Cambridge, U.K.
• London, U.K.
• Tokyo, Japan

• Kyoto, Japan
• Mendocino County, U.S.
• Nevada County, U.S.
• San Francisco, U.S.
• Seattle, WA, U.S.

I take care of 3 rescue cats. A tuxedo named Maximilian (aka Max), a tortie named Cosette (aka Cosey) & a lynx point Siamese named Puck (aka Pooka). They're all rambunctious & occasionally make appearances on my Instagram account.

I also live with my spouse, Andis. He's a talented artist & musician who currently works in the wine industry.

I enjoy doing volunteer work and have collaborated with the Napa Valley Historical Society. I also support a number of local causes including Napa Wildlife Rescue and I was a proud volunteer for the Bernie Sanders' campaign during his 2019 presidential run.

I have been a member of:
• Keats-Shelley Association of America
• Alliance of Women Film Journalists

I was born with a speech disability that makes verbal communication difficult at times. My stammer has been an obstacle throughout my life but I've tried to manage it with speech therapy. And although it's a part of who I am, I don't let it define me.

 • 5 Myths About Stuttering
 • Stuttering FAQ

PAST EMPLOYERS & COLLABORATORS
 

  • FilmStruck

  • Turner Classic Movies

  • Publishers Weekly

  • Cineaste Magazine

  • Harkit Records

  • Fandor

  • The Cultural Gutter

  • Paracinema Magazine

  • Woodstock Film Festival

  • Cinedelica

  • Anchor Bay Entertainment

  • Media House

  • Fashion Doll Quarterly

  • Kota Press

  • Art Doll Quarterly

  • Morbid Outlook

  • Biseinen-ya

  • Book Passage

  • Comic Culture

  • Spontaneous Combustion

  • Propaganda Magazine

ART EXHIBITIONS
 

  • "Dream Life of Dolls"
    - Poet's Gallery, New Orleans LA (2004)

  • "Art for Japan - Earthquake Victim Fund"
    - Online digital exhibit (2004)

  • "Pillow Books"
    - Gem City Clayworks, Laramie WY (2003)

EDUCATION
 

  • College of Marin
    - Course work towards a Liberal Arts & Sciences B.A. degree (1990-1991)
    - Course work towards a Multimedia Studies A.S. degree (1998-1999)

  • Conferences & Workshops
    - Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference (2017)
    - Dreamweaver Web Design Workshop (2000)
    - Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference (1999)

  • Online Courses
    - History of Tarot with Mary Greer
    - Major Arcana Tarot Readings with Rachel Pollack
    - Ancient Astrology Year One Course with Acyuta-bhava Das (in progress)

SKILLS & ABILITIES
 

  • Creative Writing
    - Film, Music & Book Reviews
    - In-depth Film Studies
    - Artist Profiles
    - Opinion pieces
    - Listicles
     

  • Copywriting
    - Promotional Materials
    - Press Releases
    - Product Descriptions
    - Correspondence
     

  • Research
    - Data collecting
    - Fact-checking
     

  • Design
    - Web Design
    - Editorial Design
    - Book & Magazine Covers
     

  • Branding & Marketing
    - Logos & Business Cards
    - Postcards & Flyers
    - CVs & Resumes
     

  • Photography
    - Digital & Traditional
     

  • Design Software
    - Adobe Photoshop
    - Canva
     

  • Communication Software
    - MS Word
     

  • Programming
    - HTML
    - CSS
    - PHP
     

  • Web & Blogging Platforms
    - WordPress
    - Wix
    - Blogger
     

  • Social Media Platforms
    - Twitter
    - Facebook
    - Instagram
    - Pinterest
    - LinkedIn