Let's talk about me...

For the sake of professionalism, I will tell you this (scroll down to the next section for the juicy bits):

I am originally from way up north in Duluth, Minnesota. Important note: Duluth is not in Canada. Yes, people often ask.

My junior high and high school experience was fairly standard—nothing traumatizing, but they were also not years I would want to live through again. I was an only child, which gave me far too much time by myself to develop an overactive imagination and a fine dramatic flair. After high school, I went to college at the University of Minnesota and majored in English Literature with a minor in History. I am partial to British History, especially the scandalous Tudor years.

For a few fabulous months in college, I studied in jolly old England, which allowed me to travel around Europe. Fun fact: I’ve visited every Western European country except Luxembourg and Lichtenstein. After college, I moved to New York City and loved every minute of it.

While living in New York I worked as a children’s book editor, then became a children’s book marketer, spent a few months as a cookie inventor, and finally got a dream job at Nickelodeon doing marketing and business development stuff. I also spent a few years earning a very expensive MBA from NYU (yes, I realize this seems very random, but I assure you it is incredibly practical!).

After almost ten years in New York, I moved back to Minnesota in 2007 with my family and now live and write near a wonderful lake and some fabulous coffee shops in the heart of Minneapolis. I am married to a great guy named Greg and we have three little kids who crack me up.

Now let’s talk about some of the more interesting, random bits:

I love to travel and explore new places. I spent a year living in Stockholm, Sweden (and even slept one night inside an Ice Hotel). I have also worn a Delhi-bought Sari to a wedding in India, danced a midnight jig in Red Square in Moscow, walked on a Norwegian glacier, and was forced to see a bunch of my guy friends in teeny tiny bikinis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I have an overactive sense of smell. This means the following things really bug me: bad breath, body odor, smoked and raw fish, and head. You know that “head” smell? A combination of needs-to-be-washed hair and natural body essence? Ew.

I like lip-gloss. A lot. My favorite is Grape Lip Smackers, but I can’t ever find it at stores anymore (so if you do, buy an extra for me!).

In high school, I was on the swim team, cross-country ski team, student council, and played trombone in the jazz band. I quit all of those things senior year in order to co-direct a very bizarre interpretation of Alice in Wonderland for the drama club.

I do not play basketball. I am 5’10”.

One time I stole a poster from a drug store. I still feel guilty.

I am almost always growing my hair out. But I think I'm addicted to haircuts.

I bite my nails and can only prevent this disgusting habit by getting professionally-manicured fingernails. I am very fancy that way.

Most of the time, I read books on my Kindle.

I love artichoke hearts in a very obsessive way. I also like wine, tater tots, and panna cotta.