From Teacher to Author

Teaching middle school is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—it takes creativity, stamina, hope, and a whole lot of love. Add being an English teacher into the mix, and you've got a recipe for absolute madness. Maybe it's deciphering hieroglyphic-like handwriting or crafting rubrics until the cows come home?

But you know what? Despite the chaos, I couldn't get enough of it. I spent thirty-three years in the trenches of the same middle school in Virginia. My own kids trudged through those halls for three years each, and even my hubby joined the madness as a science teacher.

I've seen it all—the teacher romances, the dramatic breakups, the fundraisers that made you question your sanity. And let's not forget the absurd icebreakers, like passing Life Savers on strands of spaghetti with our hands tied behind our backs. (Seriously, who comes up with this stuff?)

From carnivals to tricycle basketball games, faculty cheer squads to door decorating battles, and let's not forget the ear-splitting decibels of the pep rallies—my teaching days were a whirlwind of excitement. And you better believe some of those wacky experiences made their way into my books.

In 2021, retirement hit me like a ton of textbooks. I cried more times than I'd like to admit. I missed the kids, the camaraderie with my fellow teachers, and the magic that happens in the classroom.

But out of that longing grew an idea—a spark of inspiration. Why not write books where teachers find their own happily ever afters? I could showcase the struggles and imperfections of the educational system, while also highlighting the best parts of it—the laughter, the excitement, and yes, even a dash of spice.

And just like that, The Marchfield Middle Series was born. One book turned into two, then three, and who knows how many more adventures lie ahead?