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
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FilmStruck
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Turner Classic Movies
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Publishers Weekly
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Cineaste Magazine
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Harkit Records
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Fandor
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The Cultural Gutter
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Paracinema Magazine
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Woodstock Film Festival
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Cinedelica
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Anchor Bay Entertainment
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Media House
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Fashion Doll Quarterly
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Kota Press
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Art Doll Quarterly
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Morbid Outlook
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Biseinen-ya
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Book Passage
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Comic Culture
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Spontaneous Combustion
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Propaganda Magazine
ART EXHIBITIONS
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"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
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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
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Creative Writing
- Film, Music & Book Reviews
- In-depth Film Studies
- Artist Profiles
- Opinion pieces
- Listicles
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Copywriting
- Promotional Materials
- Press Releases
- Product Descriptions
- Correspondence
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Research
- Data collecting
- Fact-checking
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Design
- Web Design
- Editorial Design
- Book & Magazine Covers
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Branding & Marketing
- Logos & Business Cards
- Postcards & Flyers
- CVs & Resumes
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Photography
- Digital & Traditional
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Design Software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Canva
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Communication Software
- MS Word
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Programming
- HTML
- CSS
- PHP
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Web & Blogging Platforms
- WordPress
- Wix
- Blogger
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Social Media Platforms
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Pinterest
- LinkedIn