The Road Les Travelled
How did I get here? The road was winding and not always paved, but that makes the creative journey even more interesting.
Here are a few highlights that led to this life of storytelling.
And So it Begins...
Dinner and a show? Yes, please!
A flair for the dramatic was sparked at an early age. Evening entertainment consisted of grandma's scarves and costume jewelry. There would be jokes, magic tricks, singing, and of course, dancing in the living room.
Did I think of it as storytelling at the time? Probably not, but that didn't make it any less relevant.
Shaping Young Minds
I published my first short stories in 5th grade. These fictional accounts were set on a deserted island where my friends and I lived without parents, only pet dolphins. There was always drama because—well, it was 5th grade.
The acting bug started biting in middle school. Summer stock, high school plays, and community theater followed and contributed to building my confidence for captivating a audience of all ages.
After years of babysitting and countless sessions of playing school, it was only natural that I make it official and get a degree in Elementary Education. Summers were spent coaching campers in the art of drama, improv, and adapting plays for kid-friendly productions.
The Map is my Bucket List
Travel has always been a part of my life. With immediate family living in the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas (USVI) and Tortola (BVI) were homes away from home.
During a trip to Europe after college, I may not have found myself, but I did find a travel bug that had nestled its way into my soul. Luckily, I had enough family to visit around the county and the world.
Writing took on a whole new meaning during one particular trip. When I decided to take a solo World Wonders tour through New Zealand, Australia, China, India, and Egypt, I promised to blog daily so my parents knew I was still alive.
I still try to use my passport to visit a new place at least once a year. There's still so much to see.
From Page to Stage and Screen
When I wasn't teaching I was writing. The first produced project blended my love for story and stage. Soon I was directing a one-night-only, script-in-hand production of a full-length dramatic play, Table for Two.
Fresh off the stage, it was time to try the screen. Interning with a casting director led to office managing for a talent agency which led to production assistant gigs—one of the biggest for Celebrity Jeopardy! in NYC.
Then I combined my Elementary Ed and drama coach experience to become a children's talent agent. After confirming talent call times, it was finally time to feed my soul—and the cast and crew of various movie and commercial sets as a craft service assistant.
There were a few acting gigs—mostly background work in feature films and supporting roles in indies. Work on set inspired my first screenplay and boosted the confidence to produce and direct its feature film, Long Lost Life. These experiences also played a major role in my first book, Remember.
Wanderlust, sage advice, and other travel-related events was what inspired my second book, Aunty Says Get a Life.
Whether it was on stage, screen, or Grandma's living room, telling stories has always been a part of my journey, which continues to twist and turn as my story unfolds.
