I started writing in the back of a Chicago steakhouse. My mom was the florist and lounge singer. I was a vegetarian. Instead of learning about filets, I wrote napkin puppet shows for anyone on a break.

My love of storytelling stuck. I’ve been a copywriter and scriptwriter for the last ten years, and I’m thrilled to release my first book, The Second Chance Cinema, through Atria this fall. It’s the kind of thing that might transport you back into your own memories as you join the characters inside a red velvet cinema.

I live with my family and longhaired dachshund in a mid-century ranch. I love Nora Ephron movies, hate mushrooms, and can recite Where the Wild Things Are from cover to cover. When it comes to fiction, I’m endlessly drawn to smart characters with deep flaws and a touch of magic.