ABOUT ME

I grew up in Indiana as one of six siblings that included two adopted Black brothers. As a kid, I loved exploring nature, swimming, and reading — activities I enjoy to this day.

After graduating with a B.A. in Spanish from Calvin College, I moved to Valencia, Spain, for four years, where I worked as a translator and an English teacher. Next I moved to Los Angeles, where I attended U.S.C., received an M.A. in Print Journalism, and worked for the Los Angeles Times.

Additionally, I have worked as a reporter for United Press International, El Financiero de Mexico, and Wired News. I quit daily journalism to write my first book, but have continued publishing in many outlets, including the New York Times, O Magazine, Elle, Narrative, Pacific Standard, Newsweek, The Guardian and more.

I am proud that my memoir, Jesus Land, led to the closure of the abusive reform school that my brother David and I attended as teens — and which I profiled in the book.

My second book, A Thousand Lives, converted me into a Jonestown scholar. I’ve discussed the tragedy in dozens of documentaries, articles and podcasts. Although I usually write about the intersection of high control groups with women’s and children’s rights, my third book, Listen World!, is radical departure: a rollicking and inspirational biography of syndicated Hearst newspaper columnist Elsie Robinson.

In addition to writing, I teach narrative nonfiction and memoir through Stanford Continuing Studies, work privately with clients on manuscripts, and generate content for corporate clients.

The Bay Area has been my home the past 20+ years. I am a member of the storied San Francisco Writers Grotto and live in the East Bay with my husband and two teenage daughters, with whom I launched Sustainabar, a business that makes zero-waste bars of household cleaning and beauty products.