Author. Globetrotter. History Lover
Random (and Quirky) Fun Facts
While I like to say I am a free spirit who goes with the flow and the vibes, I am a huge planner and organizer. Even my large closet is embarrassing and carefully organized by season.
I am a real sucker for a good murder-mystery, especially those on PBS and BBC. And much to the chagrin of my family, I am very good at determining who the killer is.
One of my all-time favorite literary characters is Amelia Peabody, the opinionated and miss-know-it-all main character from Elizabeth Peter’s acclaimed Amelia Peabody series. I like to think Amelia and I share many of the same infuriating characteristics, including our dreams to be a serious archaeologist.
Besides my other (and many) quirky and unique characteristics, I talk to my plants. I like to believe my random conversations with them make them thrive.
Born and raised outside of Baltimore, I was the type of kid who asked for fantasy books for every holiday, eager tagged along on my family’s travel adventures, and annoyingly talked nonstop to anyone who offered me even a minute of their precious time. Almost 30 years later, I am happy to report not much has changed. I am still an avid reader and still obsessed with seeing as much of the world as possible towing my not-so-reluctant sister with me. The only difference between the wide-eyed girl of my yesteryears and the person I am today (besides adult cynicism) is the simple fact that I now like to annoy friends and family with history lectures along with tales of dragon riders, avenging heroines, and widely unbelievable thrillers.
While the rest of my family leaned towards a career in the sciences, I took a left turn and graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with B. A’s in history and political science. After spending a year delusionally thinking a career in law was for me, I returned to UMBC with the “history bug” in full fever and in two years, I had a hard-earned Master’s in historical studies on my resume.
It was there in the stacks of the Albin O’Kuhn Library and under the guidance of my wonderful advisors that I picked up the proverbial pen and shyly ventured into the reading room of the UK National Archives in Kew to research, write, and untangle truth from fiction when it came to Forty Elephants. After a hot mess of a thesis, two professional conference presentations, a guest speaker spot on an academic podcast, winning the Nancy Rupprecht Paper Prize for best graduate paper on European women’s history, and some advice and encouragement from my advisors and family, I took the plunge into the unknown territory of publishing. The rest you can say is history.
When I’m not talking nonstop about these women or uncovering more incredible women hidden the folds of history, I can be found working at U.S National Archives and Records Administration in College Park, devouring the latest bestseller, pretending to be a wine connoisseur, obsessing over tennis scores, and dreamily planning my next vacation while glamorously cooking pasta in my kitchen.
