AUTHOR/SPEAKER

 

To put it simply, I love to write. Writing is simply part of who I am. Whether fiction or non-fiction, each genre (humor, mystery, romance, grant writing or business management) has its’ own rules, nuance, and style. Through my writing, I can do anything, be anyone, and achieve the impossible. For years, I believed that I needed to pick one genre and stick with it. That's how it's done, right? Maybe, but that just wasn't me. I have many interests and write about all of them. Suffice it to say, I've never been much of a conformist, so I see little reason to start now.  

 

Speaking before large groups is something that just sort of happened. I can promise you that public speaking/comedy wasn't on the list of "what I wanted to be". In fact, my first stage appearance was a total debacle; yet somehow, I still I felt at home on that stage. I can't explain it, but there is something about the adrenalin rush that comes from public speaking and comedy. My warped sense of humor combined with my love of audience interaction is just fun. Laughter is healthy. I love to laugh and if others laugh with me (not at me); well, that's what I call a win-win. Just like writing, my speaking style isn't locked into one category. Whether serving as lecturer on grant writing, business leadership or team motivation to performing comedic entertainment for a fundraiser, outing or special event, I'm in my element. 

   

Throughout this fascinating journey called life, I have found that truth and reflection provide the best comedic platform for laugh-out-loud humor. Circumstances are rarely funny in the present, but often hysterical when paraphrased in the future. Life is merely a short-lived exercise of survival, humility, and learning to live beyond the happenstance of instances. 

 

Creative outlets such as writing and speaking lend themselves to high expectations and low disappointments. I freely admit there were moments where I wanted to throw in the proverbial towel and give up, but there was just something about an empty stage with a lone microphone or a lonely, blinking cursor on a blank page that seemed to call my name. Like an addict compelled by a vice, I caved. No matter what I did, I could not seem to quench my creative appetite.

 

No doubt, the combination of age, experience and plain exhaustion has helped tame the rebel within, but make no mistake about it, my learning curve is far from complete.