Women of the Canyon and Life’s Threads is where emotionally rich fiction and real-world reflection come together to help women in later life reconnect with themselves, rediscover friendship, and step into their next chapter with purpose.

This is a space for stories that speak—and insights that stick.

We know the terrain as we age. The pain of loss, the ache of loneliness, the disorientation of changing roles, the question that lingers—what now?

Through fictional storytelling and nonfiction reflection, Women, Fiction and Life’s Threads offer a different path. One where stories stir something real inside us… and then provide the tools to make change in the real world.

The result? A deeper connection to yourself, new and renewed friendships, and a sense of purpose that feels both personal and possible.

You’ve lived a full life—nurturing, building, showing up.

And now you’ve stepped into this new chapter… but something’s missing.

You thought you’d feel free. Instead, you feel like you’re wandering aimlessly.

• Friendships that once grounded you have faded or changed.

• The purpose that once got you out of bed each morning has changed—or worse, is gone.

• The roles you knew yourself by no longer fit.

And, you wonder: Who am I now? And what comes next?

And here’s why—

Because I’ve been where you are.

I’ve felt the quiet ache when a friendship disappears without explanation.

I know how it feels when the purpose that once fueled you is gone—and you’re left staring into the emptiness, wondering what you’re supposed to do now.

And because I believe stories can do something sacred:

They let you feel seen without needing to explain yourself.

They hold space for your truth without rushing you to fix anything.

They offer insight—not instruction. A moment of quiet understanding.

Through fiction, I create space for women like you to reconnect with what matters.

Not by telling you what to do—but by showing you what’s still possible, even now.

What I Offer

I write fiction that meets you in that place—not with answers, but with understanding.

A chapter a week. Kind of like Charles Dickens.

My stories don’t tell you how to fix things.

They also show characters trying to find their way—through grief, reinvention, the ache of a lost friendship and the longing for something more.

And in their stories, you just might find your own.

Why Subscribe?

Every week, I send a new chapter of Women of the Canyon, the continuing story of five strong, complex women in their sixth or seventh decade.

Like us, they navigate change, loss, purpose, and unexpected friendship.

This series allows you to explore possibilities while escaping to a new and familiar world.

What You’ll Find Here

My publication rests on two pillars that weave fiction and real-life situations together.

Women of the Canyon

Serialized fiction featuring five women in their later life who each arrive at a turning point—and find strength in community, friendship, and the land around them. The series begins with Whispers of Echo Canyon, a novel told in weekly chapters. You’ll also find Interludes—standalone side stories that offer deeper glimpses into the characters’ pasts, motivations, and surprising turning points.

Life’s Threads

Life's Threads are reflections inspired by fiction, grounded in real life.

What makes this space unique is how fiction and nonfiction work hand-in-hand. You’ll see yourself in the characters—and then, in the nonfiction, find practical ways to navigate the same questions they’re asking. It’s not just a good story. It’s a mirror and a map.

Life’s Threads will help you make emotional sense of your path, especially in uncertain places.

They’re a way to reconnect—with yourself, your past, and what still matters.

And you’ll never feel alone.

Want More?

This is for readers who want consistent stories that provide a deeper insight into the lives behind the fiction and our own.

• Find practical ways to navigate the questions we ask in our later lives. What do isolation, loneliness, and the loss of purpose mean, and how can we begin again?

• Early access to all chapters of the Women of the Canyon series—beginning with Whispers of Echo Canyon. Fiction that speaks to women in later life—who crave connection, meaning, and answers to the quiet question, What’s next?

• Exclusive Interludes—short stories that offer intimate, behind-the-scenes moments with the women you’ve come to know and care about.

My Life’s Chapters

Empowering Growth: From Award-Winning Business to Published Author

I’ve always been a builder—of businesses, gardens, and now, stories.

After 25 years in the nonprofit sector and two decades running an award-winning gardening business, I turned toward a new passion: fiction rooted in real emotion.

My books on desert container gardening have reached thousands of readers, and I still share that love through teaching and a thriving community of over 5,000 desert gardeners.

I self-published two nonfiction books on desert container gardening: Getting Potted in the Desert and the creative nonfiction story Riley’s Garden Oasis. These works reflect my desire to leave a legacy of specific techniques for struggling desert gardeners.

I had long believed the gardening business would be my forever, but life had other plans. I sold the company 15 years later as new doors and opportunities opened. With 25 years in the nonprofit sector and over 20 years of building and running a business, I channeled my passion to coach entrepreneurs to launch and operate their ventures.

With no rigid schedules and driven solely by the desire to create, I am embracing this new chapter of my life.

I’m blending live experiences with imagination—exploring the joy, freedom, and deep challenge of starting over at any age.

I live in Tucson with my partner of over 30 years.❤️

When I’m not writing, you’ll find me traveling, golfing, swimming, puzzling, or reading good stories with a strong cup of coffee close at hand.

You’re not alone. And you’re not done.

Be part of something meaningful—fiction that touches your heart and a community that speaks to your life.

It’s a place for honest conversation, shared experiences, and support that only comes when women gather with intention.