My portfolio includes both nonfiction and fiction. Nonfiction work covers years spent in journalism and as a freelance magazine writer. In 2004, I began writing a novel, which was published in 2012. Shorter fiction followed, and a number of short stories have been published. In 2019, I was awarded the Marvin E. Williams Literary Prize for the short story "Uncle Jeep," published in The Caribbean Writer, Volume 32.
Published nonfiction
Times of the Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Articles since 1991 include profiles on islanders; a column, "A Day in the Life"; and other island topics. www.timespub.tc
Other magazine work
Civil War Times Illustrated, Reptiles, Cigar Aficionado, Westsylvania, Central Pennsylvania's Apprise, Teaching Theatre, Carnegie-Mellon Magazine, The Valley, Reaching New Heights, Quail Bell Magazine (online), and the Richmond Navigator family of magazines (West End's Best, Chesterfield Living, River City and Hanover Lifestyle)
Restaurant reviews, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1995-2003
Newspaper articles Richmond Times-Dispatch, Harrisburg Patriot News, Lebanon Daily News, Monroeville Daily Tribune and Greensburg Tribune-Review
Articles since 1991 include profiles on islanders; a column, "A Day in the Life"; and other island topics. www.timespub.tc
Other magazine work
Civil War Times Illustrated, Reptiles, Cigar Aficionado, Westsylvania, Central Pennsylvania's Apprise, Teaching Theatre, Carnegie-Mellon Magazine, The Valley, Reaching New Heights, Quail Bell Magazine (online), and the Richmond Navigator family of magazines (West End's Best, Chesterfield Living, River City and Hanover Lifestyle)
Restaurant reviews, Richmond Times-Dispatch, 1995-2003
Newspaper articles Richmond Times-Dispatch, Harrisburg Patriot News, Lebanon Daily News, Monroeville Daily Tribune and Greensburg Tribune-Review
Published fiction
Fish-Eye Lens, published by Belle Isle Books in 2012, is a novel about of how a few boozy, gossipy women on the remote island of East Taino managed to discourage the efforts of a sleazy, culture-deaf developer to turn their paradise into yet another Paradise Lost.
The story unfolds as the trio talk to a camera wielded by a member of an ecological documentary team ... and as they manage to also insinuate themselves into their interviewer's life and problems. There are twists and secrets and the realization that there's more to the life of an island than cocktails and beach chairs.
Fish-Eye Lens is available from Belle Isle Books, www.belleislebooks.com; www.amazon.com; www.barnesandnoble.com; and www.smashwords.com/books/view/114554 (ebook options)
The story unfolds as the trio talk to a camera wielded by a member of an ecological documentary team ... and as they manage to also insinuate themselves into their interviewer's life and problems. There are twists and secrets and the realization that there's more to the life of an island than cocktails and beach chairs.
Fish-Eye Lens is available from Belle Isle Books, www.belleislebooks.com; www.amazon.com; www.barnesandnoble.com; and www.smashwords.com/books/view/114554 (ebook options)
Short Stories North Caicos Island has inspired a number of short stories that attempt to capture the essence of real island living. Those that have been published are listed here.
"The Mermaid of Pelican Point" in The Battered Suitcase, Vagabondage Press, winter 2010, www.vagabondagepress.com A young girl saves her island from a new landowner who wants to modernize it.
"Chickens" online and in print by The Ink-Filled Page, 2010, www.inkfilledpage.com Recently widowed, a Richmond banker remembers an island funeral.
"Bush Medicine" and "John Glenn Orbits the Earth" published by Tongues of the Ocean, winter 2010 and 2011, www.tonguesoftheocean.org Shark and Vera have been married a long time, but the bushman has always been her soul mate; estranged brothers reunite and recall the incident that changed their lives.
"Slave Hands," listed in the Top 10 of the Women on Writing spring 2011 contest, www.WOW-womenonwriting.com A young boy is teased about his large hands. (F)
"Sisal Leaves" published by The Caribbean Writer, September 2012, www.thecaribbeanwriter.org Franklin's children break his heart in different ways.
"The Proper Way to Make Conch Fritters" published by Persimmon Tree, 2013,
www.persimmontree.org The rivalry of old schoolmates resurfaces when they share a kitchen.
"Delia Gone" published by Quail Bell Magazine, December 2013,
http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/2/post/2013/12/short-story-delia-gone.html An island folk song reaches into the life of a young woman new to the island.
"My Jumby" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2014. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. An American is haunted by an island spirit.
"Signals" published by Quail Bell Magazine, January 2015, www.quailbellmagazine.com. A grocery store cashier sees an escape from her humdrum life. (F)
"Underwater Piano" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2015. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. Jamey's dreams are drowned when he returns to his home island.
"Thieves" published by Poui, literary journal of the University of the West Indies, 2015. A newly-minted police woman sees the other side of her case.
"Flamingo" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2016. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. Devon dreams of a life beyond his dying island. (F)
"Look Away," published by Poui, literary journal of the University of the West Indies, 2016. A recluse and a mentally ill woman bond and learn about living invisibly.
"Uncle Jeep" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2018. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. The spirit of a young writer's uncle leads her to an unusual collection of stories.
"The Mermaid of Pelican Point" in The Battered Suitcase, Vagabondage Press, winter 2010, www.vagabondagepress.com A young girl saves her island from a new landowner who wants to modernize it.
"Chickens" online and in print by The Ink-Filled Page, 2010, www.inkfilledpage.com Recently widowed, a Richmond banker remembers an island funeral.
"Bush Medicine" and "John Glenn Orbits the Earth" published by Tongues of the Ocean, winter 2010 and 2011, www.tonguesoftheocean.org Shark and Vera have been married a long time, but the bushman has always been her soul mate; estranged brothers reunite and recall the incident that changed their lives.
"Slave Hands," listed in the Top 10 of the Women on Writing spring 2011 contest, www.WOW-womenonwriting.com A young boy is teased about his large hands. (F)
"Sisal Leaves" published by The Caribbean Writer, September 2012, www.thecaribbeanwriter.org Franklin's children break his heart in different ways.
"The Proper Way to Make Conch Fritters" published by Persimmon Tree, 2013,
www.persimmontree.org The rivalry of old schoolmates resurfaces when they share a kitchen.
"Delia Gone" published by Quail Bell Magazine, December 2013,
http://www.quailbellmagazine.com/2/post/2013/12/short-story-delia-gone.html An island folk song reaches into the life of a young woman new to the island.
"My Jumby" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2014. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. An American is haunted by an island spirit.
"Signals" published by Quail Bell Magazine, January 2015, www.quailbellmagazine.com. A grocery store cashier sees an escape from her humdrum life. (F)
"Underwater Piano" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2015. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. Jamey's dreams are drowned when he returns to his home island.
"Thieves" published by Poui, literary journal of the University of the West Indies, 2015. A newly-minted police woman sees the other side of her case.
"Flamingo" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2016. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. Devon dreams of a life beyond his dying island. (F)
"Look Away," published by Poui, literary journal of the University of the West Indies, 2016. A recluse and a mentally ill woman bond and learn about living invisibly.
"Uncle Jeep" published by The Caribbean Writer, 2018. www.thecaribbeanwriter.org. The spirit of a young writer's uncle leads her to an unusual collection of stories.