When I discovered the growing field of personal history, I knew immediately that this was the profession for me. An introvert by nature, I've always been a deep listener. I cherish time spent sitting with another person listening to his or her story. And I've always been a writer. From a childhood spent writing short stories to a professional career as a technical writer and instructional designer, writing has consistently been at the core of what I do best.
It was in a volunteer role for a professional association that I discovered my love for writing about other people's lives. I wrote a monthly newsletter article profiling a member of the association. I would meet in person with the member, conduct the interview, and then write the article. I heard fascinating stories and loved the entire process! And the profiled members consistently gave me rave reviews on how well I had captured who they are.
I was hooked and began exploring how I could do more, how I could combine my love for writing with my deep listening skills and fascination with other people's stories. This exploration led me to launch my personal history business -- Your Story Unfolded.
As a personal historian, I get to use my strengths and do something I absolutely love. To listen deeply and serve as a witness to another's life story is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. It is indeed an honor when someone allows me into their life in this way.
When I am not interviewing clients or writing about their lives, you'll find me enjoying time with my husband and daughter in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Born and raised in North Carolina, I have strong ties to my Southern roots. But the snow-capped peaks and rugged coastline of Washington and Oregon called to me over 25 years ago. Since then, I have called Seattle home and have loved every moment of exploring this spectacular corner of the country.