I was born in Ledyard, CT and raised in upstate New York. I moved to coastal North Carolina in the summer of 2010 and I definitely don't miss the snow. Here, I met my future husband David who has been a stronghold in my life ever since.

This past November, I finally decided to sit down and write The Thirteenth Step for a fundraising program called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). The goal is to write 50,000 words in one month, which is the equivalent of a short novel (about the length of The Thirteenth Step). I have been trying to write a novel for quite a few years - there are stories inside me that are itching to be told.

A few readers have come to me with the same question after finishing The Thirteenth Step: Did this really happen?

I have debated for a while whether or not how truthfully I would answer this question. Firstly, the answer is yes and no. A few people have advised that I completely deny that any of this story belongs to me, but I will partially take that advice. Yes, there are parts that are true: I have type I Bipolar Disorder. Does this make me crazy? No. Are there times in my life when I feel crazy? Yes. And yes, I have gone through alcohol abuse, but I am now five and a half years sober. Questions about either subject are welcome.