Our stories are the bonds that hold us humans together. By sharing them, we build relationships, establish intimacy, fall in and out of love, incite one another to action, and find the places where we belong in the world. But so many of us struggle to understand our own stories, let alone find places to share them where they will resonate and become part of our collective dialogue. As someone who has studied the art of writing and the craft of storytelling over my whole career, it’s a supreme honor to have the opportunity to help others find their voices, craft their stories, and find their audiences.

An important part of my creative process is getting away from words and noise, so I’ve developed a habit of spending extended stretches of time alone in the wilderness, hiking and kayaking through the wild spaces of my home state of California. My best ideas tend to arrive when I’m not staring at my computer screen, so I treat my brain and soul to regular doses of nature, silence, and solitude. I’m far from a hermit, though—I was initially drawn to editing because of my desire to be in connection with others. I have two children, and I’m a regular classroom volunteer. I play soccer with my team on Monday nights and I’m a member of the East Bay Judo Institute, where I train and serve as a volunteer instructor in the kids’ classes. I’m in constant awe of the richness and variety of the human experience, and of the ways we understand and interpret the world around us, the events of our lives, and the products of our imaginations.