After a tour of duty in the Army (stationed in Germany during a freaking war!), I attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. and joined the Louisiana National Guard as a photojournalist (where I completed eleven years of military service). While at NSU, I studied creative writing under novelist Dr. Albert Belisle Davis and journalism under Dr. Lloyd Chaisson. I earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Mass Communications (print journalism) and certification in Secondary Education. I was a teacher for seven years. My journalism and photography work have appeared in numerous regional publications, and I won numerous awards including the South Regional Award and the Bonnie Toups Wells Award for feature writing, the National Library of Poetry's Editor's Choice Award, Creative Arts & Science Enterprises' Accomplishments of Merit for Outstanding Literary Achievement Award in Poetry, and Lliad Press' Honorable Mention in Poetry. My poetry appeared in nine anthologies in the United States and the United Kingdom-which all means nothing to you, but, to me, it means a great deal since it all ended because of silent abuse. I was born and raised in South Louisiana and have three wonderful children whom I adore more than than thing. I'm also a grandmother, and one day I hope that my grandchild, as well as my future grandchildren, see that their grandmother was one hell of a strong woman. I am a 100% disabled veteran writing full time, living where ever I want...currently that place is Las Vegas, Nevada...sharing my life with my best friend and lover, the Sweet Man.