I piled up pillows and blankets on a chair to reach mother's typewriter and pecked my way through pages and pages of stories.

I eventually graduated cum laude from BYU with a BA in English. I've since published dozens of articles, spent a few years on the League of Utah Writer's Utah Valley chapter board, and even won some awards for my scribbling, including three publication awards and second place in consecutive years for novels.

When I'm not writing, I like to knit, eat chocolate, read and hang out with my husband Rob and my four awesome kids.

I can confidently say that without Rob's encouragement, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Below are some of the lesser-known tidbits about me:

I was married in the Logan temple, and my father grew up in Logan. That's where my love of Logan came from, which sparked my interest in writing about the area—which in turn sparked my historical temple book series.

My husband and I met as cha-cha partners on one of the BYU summer ballroom dance teams. By the time we had our first date, we had spent two hours dancing together each morning and were great friends.

I had jaw surgery at age 16 and had my mouth wired shut. I still have six tiny screws in my jaw, visible only on an x-ray. In all my sister's wedding pictures (she was married the same summer) I've got a swollen chipmunk face.

I spent the years from age ten to thirteen living in Finland, which is where my second book, At the Water's Edge is set.

I spent another three years on my high school's drill team. Can't do splits anymore. Don't even ask.

When I write, I draw on all kinds of things that have happened to me. Those who have read Lost Without You will recognize the following: In elementary school I got hit in the head with a rock during recess. On a camping trip I got turned around in a tent and woke my mother by screaming out in the middle of the night. I love hiking in the Uintah mountains. I have performed in both Fiddler on the Roof and Into the Woods. My husband introduced me to John Denver, and I love jamming out to ABBA Gold.

My three favorite movies are Much Ado About Nothing, A Knight's Tale, and the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice.

I'm a second generation chocoholic. (My oldest daughter has carried it into the third generation. I'm so proud.)