That's me on the left. Next to me is Jonah Yellowman, a Navajo spiritual leader whose story is featured in my book, Voices from Bears Ears: Seeking Common Ground on Sacred Land (University of Arizona Press, 2018).
As a writer and journalist, I seek out untold stories, colorful characters, and any assignment that gets me out of an office and into the field. I have written about people and topics as varied as medical marijuana, undocumented sex workers, midnight muralists, racial inequality in public schools, a makeup artist for drag queens and zombies, and Indigenous-led conservation movements. My work has been recognized with awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Associated Press, and the Alliance for Women in Media.
My first book, Voices from Bears Ears: Seeking Common Ground on Sacred Land, was published in October 2018 by the University of Arizona Press. Currently in its second printing, Voices was a finalist for the 2020 Oregon Book Award in the General Nonfiction category and was recognized by the government of the Zuni Tribe for “[sharing] the Bears Ears story in an informative and balanced view, with respect for the people that cherish this landscape.” Learn more about Voices here, and visit BearsEarsCountry.com for photographs, audio interviews, and a blog about all things Bears Ears.
I make my home in southwest Washington with my husband, daughter, and two cats. On any given weekend you can find me hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, making a (tasty) mess in the kitchen, reading voraciously, and/or practicing for a choir rehearsal.