Much of my childhood was spent reading Nancy Drew mysteries and daily journaling, thanks to my parents who insisted birthday and Christmas gifts include books and journals. Over time and with the help of Nancy Drew, I grew to love writing short stories and poetry. I was good at it too, winning several writing awards in grade school and high school. After high school, my love of writing led me to obtain degrees in journalism and communications. Not only am I an award-winning writer, I've been published in The Washington Post, The Washington Times, ESSENCE magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, and numerous nonprofit and federal publications. Although I now earn a living as a highly credentialed communications officer, my need for creative self-expression through writing remains a huge part of my personal life. I credit this to my parents, who knew early on, writing would take me further than I could have ever imagined.