She is a member of the
Children's Literature Network,
and has judged several national writing contests. As a speaker she has spoken at different national and local venues on a variety of children’s subjects ranging from an inside look at the popular Harry Potter Series to writing nonfiction.
One of her favorite activities is reviewing upcoming children's books. She is currently a reviewer for "School Library Journal" where she enters the imaginary worlds created by rising and notable authors. When times allows, she reads the books to her class so they can voice their opinions.
As a member of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI),
and former Board Member of the Florida Writer's Association, she belongs to a core group of writers dedicated to advancing children’s writing. In 2003, her middle grade novel titled Rinny and The Trail of Clues (by Robyn Leslie) won the Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Best New Children’s Voice.
When asked what she loves to do, she struggled to narrow it down and laughed when she thought about it.
"Of course I love to learn. When vacationing last summer in Arizona, when others were shopping for goodies, I was at the science store "oohing and aahing" over fossils. And I love to explore. Put me in a new place, and I'll want to see what it's made of. Besides writing, I love to read because it takes you on a journey to faraway worlds. Where else can you learn about magic, or how an indigenous tribe hunted by looking through the eye holes of a deer skin? And I really love teaching kids. I'm there when the light bulb goes off and a milestone is crossed.
And I have just recently developed a passion for hiking. I survived hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon last summer and I figure if I can do that, I can do anything!"
