I grew up surrounded by yellow linoleum, shag rugs, wood-paneled walls, and Tiffany-style ceiling lamps. Obviously, the 70s.

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Each morning began with a daily devotional from The Upper Room, and each evening ended with“Spare the rod, spoil the child."

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So it might not be surprising that this young lesbian learned about the world through her library card and the Holy Grail of television, HBO.

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Playing high school soccer was the first time books and movies didn’t prepare me. My rapid relegation to the bench taught me that if I wanted playing time, I needed actual experience.

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That lesson catapulted me into a life of exploration, adventure, and creativity.

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As a documentary filmmaker, I interviewed a woman who, during WWII, hiked the Italian Alps to salvage parachute silk from a downed bomber, sewing it into her wedding dress. Another film contributed to MOMA’s recovery of Alice Guy Blache’s lost cinematic archives, deepening my drive to elevate untold stories.

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I explored advertising, working with global clients like Dannon, Evian, and L’Oréal, before launching Iris Studios, my own photo and video company in Los Angeles.

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Eventually, I followed a family calling to education, earned an MA in English, and helped over 3,000 high school students find their voice.

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My fiction has been recognized as a finalist for the Anton Chekhov Award. Recently, my screenplay, The Vessel, won awards in several competitions. My second screenplay, Faultlines, is currently being judged.

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My wife, teenage son, and chocolate Lab are my greatest inspirations and harshest critics.

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I champion positive messaging around the LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse communities.