About Me

/
0 Comments
Photo by Wendy Swenson Photography

I am a Michigan-based journalist, blogger and poet.

I'm taking a cue from Toni Morrison and writing what I want to read here on this blog. This includes book reviews, thoughts and advice on the writing life, inspirational nonfiction and occasional fiction and poetry.

Education and work experience

I earned a bachelor of arts in journalism, with a minor in English literature, at Cornerstone University, graduating summa cum laude in 2009.

I have been blogging since 2008 and writing since the age of 7.

My college work included staff reporter, copy editor, page designer, features editor, assistant editor and editor of The Herald student newspaper.

I also helped restart a dormant student newspaper at Montcalm Community College in 2005-06, and then became a copy editor, reporter, assistant to the advisor and associate editor.

I did an internship from 2008-09 as a copy editor and page designer at The Grand Rapids Press and then was hired on part-time. In 2012, the company rebranded itself as MLive Media Group and merged eight newspapers into one operation. During that time I was promoted to full time in the role of features and business editor for all eight print editions in Michigan.

I left MLive in December 2014, thereafter did freelance work, then took a temporary writing and editing position in Calvin College's communication and marketing department for nine months.

Since 2016, I have worked as a reporter for the Grand Rapids Business Journal, covering everything from small businesses to manufacturing to banking and finance to the food industry.

I also write for GRMag.com — the website for Grand Rapids' top city magazine — covering lifestyle, arts and entertainment, and food news.

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.