Books That Shape My Work

Creativity has always been a part of my life—but for a long time, I didn’t call it that.

In elementary school, I used drawing and design to dissociate from the bullies who harassed me daily. It wasn’t just a distraction—it was a lifeline. In high school, I stitched quilts, drapes, and clothes after school to earn money. In college, after too many semesters of trying to be “practical,” I finally allowed myself to add art as a second major. Still, I struggled with the belief that artists weren’t taken seriously—that they didn’t work hard or couldn’t support themselves.

When I became a mother, I found creative outlets in the everyday. I crocheted through pregnancies and sleepless nights, took photos of my children, and built layered scrapbooking pages to hold the memories. After my divorce, I turned to writing—sharing essays, stories, and reflections as a healing practice. It became a way to make meaning from the chaos.

As a teacher, I create every day. Lessons. Schedules. Inclusive activities. I design ways for young children to feel seen, included, and excited about learning. That, too, is art.

For the past four years, I’ve been writing children’s picture books rooted in social-emotional learning—stories that reflect the real emotional lives of young kids and the adults who love them. And then, after a catastrophic injury and shoulder reconstruction, I finally paused. In that space of recovery, I returned to painting—something I hadn’t made time for in 25 years.

This time, I paint what I want to paint. Not what I think will sell. Not what others expect. I’m developing my style slowly and intentionally, taking classes, attending workshops, and staying open to growth. I’ve reclaimed the joy of learning for learning’s sake.

And something beautiful is happening in my family: my daughter, always an artist, is now studying medical illustration in college. My teenage son has begun capturing deep space through astrophotography. We are a family of creators, each following our curiosity in our own way.

I believe creativity heals—not just for artists, but for all of us. Whether you crochet once a week, write in a journal, make lesson plans, cook meals, or tend a garden, you are creating. And when we focus on what brings us joy, we raise the vibration of our homes, our communities, and our world.

This page is a collection of books that have helped shape my work—as an artist, author, teacher, and mother. They’ve offered insight, language, courage, and tools. I share them here in the hopes that they’ll do the same for you.