Welcome to Warped Influences

About Me

My background

My writing roots

I was born and raised in South Florida in a little town called Homestead. I spent my early years on an agricultural farm in a home tucked away behind a hedge of guava trees. I was an only child, and spent a lot of my days alone with only my imagination.

I have two degrees - one in Broadcasting and the other in Legal Studies. One was useful, the other not so much.

I now live in Southwest Florida and work full-time as a legal assistant in the personal injury field. Getting to know people and a snapshot of their life stories is one of the reasons I love what I do, and it pays the bills.

My writing roots

I became a writer f the Fifth Grade, writing suspense and horror short stories. I was encouraged by my teacher, Wendy Waterman, who presented me with a blank book that I have kept ever since.

My Eighth Grade teacher, Amanda Lucas and my 11th English teacher, Yearbook Advisor, and Television Production Teacher, Karen Herzog, were also very encouraging in regards to my writing, and their advice and wisdom laid the foundation to the writer I have become today.

My Influences

My writing roots

My Influences

Early on, authors Shirley Jackson (The Haunting of Hill House), Ira Levin (The Stepford Wives, Rosemary's Baby) and the mysteries of Agatha Christie were huge inspirations for my writing. I also love a lot of Stephen King's work and Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club" is one of my all-time favorite novels.