ABOUT
About Me
I graduated from The University of South Florida in Tampa, with a degree in Biology. It was my life-long dream to become a marine biologist and work with dolphins. But instead, life took me in another direction, and I found myself in a hospital laboratory. It was there that I learned about histology - the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells, tissues, and organs. It was a cool job and I loved it. But, deep down, writing was always my passion.
I wrote my first fully illustrated picture book for a family friend around the age of five. I quickly learned that while I did not have a knack for drawing, writing felt natural. I wrote awful poetry to express my feelings as a teen, and as a young mom in my 20's, I wrote an even more awful rhyming picture book called A BABY IN THE BELLY - which I guarantee was one of the reasons agents and editors tell people not to write in rhyme. But, eventually I came to my senses and realized that I had lots to learn. So I did. I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), critique groups, attended conferences and workshops, took craft courses, and I read. A lot. For years.
Eventually, all that hard work paid off, because now I get to do what I love - pour my feelings into words that I hope you will connect with and love (or at least like a little bit).
25 Facts About Me
1. I was born in Rome, Italy.
2. I'm the middle child.
3. I have two brothers.
4. My favorite number is 5.
5. I ran track, played soccer, took gymnastics, and was a cheerleader all through school.
6. I was NOT one of the "cool kids" at school.
7. I'm lousy at Math.
8. I love being in/on the water - give me a beach, a boat, or a pool.
9. I received my PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Certification in college.
10. I've participated in several Tough Mudder events (my nickname is Mudder Teresa).
11. In college, I drove around with a dead cat in my trunk and sometimes kept it in my bedroom closet (it was for my anatomy lab).
12. I married my college sweetheart.
13. I'm mom to two awesome daughters.
14. I love to sing...but I'm not very good.
15. I once sat at the dinner table for hours (or what felt like it) because I refused to eat liver.
16. I love to travel.
17. I once walked across my college campus with my underwear showing because my skirt was tucked up under my backpack.
18. I tripped walking UP the stairs (more than once).
19. I wanted to be a marine biologist and landed my dream internship, working with dolphins, during college.
20. I'm left-handed.
21. I often say I became a writer because I have a hard time speaking in public.
22. My youngest daughter once told her class that I kept legs in my refrigerator (true - but I worked as a histotechnologist at the time, and it was my work refrigerator.)
23. I love to read.
24. I'm a Leo.
25. I broke my nose walking into our sliding glass door the week before I started college (after which, my dad taped an X on it, so it wouldn't happen again).
Me at a Tough Mudder. Can you guess what I was thinking?
Turns out fire baton-twirling wasn't my thing.
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