I'm the author of the memoir "They Only Eat Their Husbands"(Ghost Road Press, 2010), the story of my nine years in Alaska, where I ended up in a series of destructive relationships with alcoholics, and the year I backpacked around the world alone in search of recovery and discovery. I'm the coauthor of the novel "Back in the Real World" (Graham Publishing Group, 2011), the story of two war survivors who give each other the strength to come home. I'm also the creator of "Girls Trek Too," a blog dedicated to inspiring women to live life as an adventure. I've explored 19 countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

I've worked as a journalist in Alaska, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Denver. My stories have appeared in such publications as The Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, and Wazee Journal. I've written for TV shows on Home and Garden TV, Food Network, and Discovery Health. I currently write and edit books for clients, and coach both youth and adults to help them achieve their creative-writing goals. I'm currently writing a historical novel, inspired by the history of my Mexican-Chinese American grandmother.

My husband and I got married at an active volcano in Costa Rica, survived both dangers, and now live in Denver.