“Because for some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you.”
— Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Writing and reading have always been an essential part of my identity. As a child I often remember crafting imaginary stories with vivid characters and perhaps too obvious character motivations.
Once I mastered the skill of reading, I was not often seen without a book in my hand.
Even as a busy adult, my weekly trips to the library are non-negotiable appointments with myself.
I had the opportunity in college to major in English, earning a Bachelor’s in English from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Spending a considerable time in the historic and hallowed halls of Old Main was a balm to my soul. Through those four years I was able to refine my writing skills, hone my voice as an author, and create meaningful work that spoke to the facets of literature I most admire.
An assortment of these works are included below.
In the fall of 2019, I had the opportunity to work on an independent journalism project for undergraduate credit. As a history buff, I knew that I wanted to pick a topic and do a deep-dive
into the background of it, the impact on the past, and current effects still felt today.
Deciding upon what that topic would be was a bit blurry at first.
As a child I loved visiting the various museums and historic homes in my hometown. The place where I grew up is not a particularly spacious or highly-populated area, but yet remnants of some of the most innovative and poignant times in American history are still standing and preserved there today for all to see.
Once it dawned on me that I had a first-hand connection to the type of topic I wanted to cover, I set off to become an expert in the historical background of my hometown, thus discovering that many of the events of the 17th century were overtly linked to Major General Grenville Dodge, and how his presence in and dedication to my hometown drove much of the town’s economic development and historical impact.
Click on the image below to read the full non-fiction essay.
My undergraduate English thesis acts as a culmination of my creative and academic work written within the study of English and literature thus far. My fiction component and theoretical application
authentically includes many of the themes I am passionate about and demonstrates
the ways in which the romance genre influences my writing.
The romance genre, feminism, true crime, and complex human relationships
are integral to my own practice as a writer.
Click on the image below to read my full thesis.
The 2021 Boatright Awards were judged by David Mullins (prose), Lisa Fay Coutley (poetry), and Allison Sheldon (art).
Of my work, Coutley wrote,
“‘The Floating Light’ trusts its details to braid together in a way that reflects both the accuracy of a single moment (as viewed from several perspectives) and the confusion of the world the speaker views within the mundane moments that ground us in our lives. Everything here is happening at once and no thing is more important than the other in terms of line, punctuation, syntax, or voice
(often in the passive construction, which renders the speaker and readers somewhat helpless).
There seems to be a central question and confusion in this poem (the unidentifiable light) alongside the distraction of daily mishaps or forgotten duties and the inconvenient details of walking in rain.
All of this together creates a sense of cohesion and chaos that mirrors the content and
comments on these strange and difficult times in which we survive.”
