I grew up in a small town on the coast of Rhode Island. My childhood was spent playing in the forests and swamps surrounding our house; battling trees with sticks, outrunning imaginary monsters, and coloring pictures of each adventure once I was safely home. I had been drawing for about as long as anyone could remember, and sometime in my late teens I'd begun painting as well. My dream was always to be an illustrator, but like so many folks with a dream, rent money and health insurance had paved the way to a day job. After graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, I found myself working at a bank.

Each night after work I rushed home, made dinner for my cat Elvis and I, and settled down to paint for a few hours. Occasionally I would sell a painting, and I wrote a webcomic that posted weekly, but more often than not I would finish an illustration only to tuck it safely into a drawer. The little pile grew, waiting for the day I would get brave and pursue illustrating full time.

As it would happen, life took a 3,000 mile detour in 2010 when I agreed to move to Seattle with my husband five days after our first date. (You can find that story on my blog). On our third date we packed up my illustrations, Elvis, and my apartment to drive for six days across the country. Having lived in Rhode Island all my life, this was a huge change. I went from living in a small town with about 1600 people to a sprawling metropolis of 3 million.

I discovered bravery sort of grows from one decision to another. I took a chance and began selling prints of my illustrations here on Etsy and in independent shops across the country. I have since shipped my work to folks all over the world, from Japan, to Denmark, to Australia, to England, to Spain, and almost every state in the nation!

As time went on, my comics gained an audience and eventually my comic 'Breaking Cat News' was syndicated through GoComics and Andrews McMeel Syndication. Today my comic is in newspapers across the country, and I'm the author of two published books, with a third on the way! (I still hope to one day illustrate children’s books, as well!) The support and encouragement I have received through customers on Etsy and readers around the world is overwhelming.

Today I live in Washington state with my husband Ryan, our children Luke and Gwen, and our cats Elvis, Puck, Lupin, and Goldie (who star in 'Breaking Cat News'. BCN is still syndicated through Andrews McMeel Syndication, and to date Andrews McMeel Publishing has published two books with a third on the way! 'Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News That Matters to Cats', 'Lupin Leaps In', and 'Take It Away, Tommy' can be ordered through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound, or your local bookstore!

I do my best to balance life between cartooning and being a Mom, and love both jobs thoroughly.