I grew up in central New York with my parents, older sister, and younger brother. I still live in New York with my husband and sons, about two hours northwest from where I grew up. Over the years, I’ve lived in or traveled to a few other places (and fell in love with many of them), but upstate New York, with its forests and lakes and hills, will always feel like home.

I was a very shy child and spent a lot of time watching and thinking. I’ve learned how to pretend to not be shy when necessary, but I think that early shyness prepared me for both my past work as a scientist and also now as a writer. I’ve spent a lot of time watching animals, trying to understand why they do what they do. Writing also involves a lot of watching and quiet work-noticing and thinking, finding the right details, and dreaming up ideas.

About My Work
Although I’ve left my formal work as a biologist, I’m forever inspired by the natural world. It’s so big and complicated and wonderful. There’s always more to explore.

Three Things You Might Not Know About Me:
As a kid, I spent six weeks in a body cast after breaking my leg in a sledding accident. An important safety note for everyone out there: Watch out for trees.

I’ve had several animal-related jobs: a honeybee-swarm researcher, a parrot researcher, a fish cataloger in a natural history collection, and a volunteer at a gibbon sanctuary.

My garden is my happy place. I’m a little obsessed with digging in the dirt and growing things, and I’m always coming up with new projects.