Hello, I’m Ivy. Here is my story.
I am vintage these days…more than 20 years have passed since my visit to Stonehenge. This Gen X-er grew up where the Chicago suburbs end and the rest of the Midwest begins. My life's goal was to see the world beyond the fields of corn in my backyard. Thank goodness for books, which let me travel anywhere!
Eventually I graduated from college with a B.A. in history and an M.A. in art history. Grad school was where I first learned to write. This was no small feat, considering I had two daughters under the age of two when I donned a cap and gown for the last time. I taught at a number of community colleges for seven years. At that time I also wrote a blog focusing on the challenges of having two beautiful and totally different daughters: the oldest was the epitome of the first child of a first child of an only child; the second was developmentally delayed daughter without a proper diagnosis (It would take eight years for medical science to realize all the tests for autism were geared towards diagnosing boys). Despite the fact I made my fair share of mistakes along the way, both of my daugthers are thriving today.
I’ve reached an age where I finally feel comfortable in my own skin. If outspoken women aren’t your thing…well, I’m not the author for you. Some have accused me of being a liberal snowflake. Others have told me that I’m too naive, too empathetic, too optimistic. Honestly I’m not sure why this has been thrown at me like insults. I truly believe in showing up not just for my fellow humans but the planet itself. As Eminem said, “There is nothing more fierce, more formidiable, than unconditional love.”
So while this is a page about me, please know that I write for you. I’m an American and its currently March of 2025. Shit’s gone sideways.
Now more than ever, I believe we need stories in the world that promote love, overcoming impossible odds, and treating others with kindess and respect. I’m here not only to write but to promote the stories that speak to us on a soul level. That is part of the reason I adore romantasy in particular. While some poo-poo it as fairy porn, I am uplifted by gorgeously crafted tales of female empowerment.
The rest of my story is still being written. Where will the rest of my 40s take me? Who knows. But my eyes and heart are open and excited to be on the journey.
P.S. For those in the know, I have a Scorpio Sun and Rising, and a Leo Moon.
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Yep—this is the place of big dreams.
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