For me, writing is an expedition through life experiences. My expedition began many years ago when I was born in Mary's Chapel, a small farming community. This little community is located about two miles north of Scotland Neck, North Carolina. Farmhouses still sit in the middle of fields or on the side of dirt roads. Up town in Scotland Neck, people still park in the middle of the street.

For eight years, I attended Mary's Chapel's four-room school along with my five brothers and two sisters. During my early years, my mother used to tell a story about the birthday of each of her children. She said my birthday, February 28th, was so cold the midwife, Miss Melissa, moved her to the south side of the house. That way the rising sun could give warmth and strength to the mother. Since money was scarce, Miss Melissa charged my father a cord of wood and two sugar-cured hams for delivering me. The midwife also had the privilege to pick vegetables from our summer and fall gardens.

Storytelling and reading were the favorite pastimes in our house. My father was the best storyteller and the best reader. My much-loved memories are of him leaning toward the oil lamp to read aloud from the News and Observer Newspaper and Time Magazine. He never tired of our interruptions to ask questions. He would listen to us read from books we had borrowed from school. To me, there were two kinds of books-- thin books and thick books.

I was in the fourth grade when I read my first thick book: The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew. Polly, Ben, Davie, and Phronsie reminded me of how my parents dealt with tragedy. The Peppers remained my favorite book characters for many years. Then storytelling, poetry, and oratorical contests became my favorite interests.

There was always an audience to listen to my original stories at school or in the cotton fields. I was delighted when grown ups requested my stories.

I was awarded a four-year scholarship to attend Elizabeth City State Teacher's College; and I graduated with a B.S. Degree in elementary education. I taught school for almost eighteen years before I decided to become a full time, traveling storyteller. I enjoyed traveling to tell stories in forty states, Canada, the West Indies, and South Africa.

In 1999, one of my favorite telling stories became my first book: Molly Bannaky. I had been telling the story of Molly for ten years before I decided to send a manuscript to a literary editor. The writing expedition continues.