I’ll admit, Pitch Wars is new to me, and quite frankly, all the Twitter interaction is intimidating. Making friends has always come easily, but conversing via social media couldn’t be more awkward for me. Still, I won’t shirk from something that could only improve my writing.

Submission Manuscript:

Siphors is a YA superhero origin story where incredible powers aren’t enough to make a hero.

Fifteen-year-old Chandler O’Connor knows your pain, your anger, your insecurities. He can take it away or use it against you. But even the best intentions fail when it comes at the price of your humanity, and Chandler must decide what it means to be super-human.

This story began as a short work for a college class. I liked the premise so much that I expanded it into a novel and have rewritten it several times in my quest to find the right plot, age, and voice. Each time, my skills have grown, and now the elements feel just about perfect. My critique group recently provided feedback on the full manuscript, and I’m ready to polish those edits with the help of a Pitch Wars mentor.

About Me:

As a child, I wanted to be a fireman, an inventor, and a marine biologist. I grew up in libraries and savored my dad’s bedtime readings: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Mouse and the Motocycle, The Chronicles of Prydain, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and other classic children’s tales. Though, I didn’t like reading on my own until Animorphs, when I no longer saw the words and felt literally transported to a different world. It wasn’t until I read Ella Enchanted in sixth grade, that I knew I would be a fiction writer.

Since then I’ve dedicated myself to the art of writing. I enrolled in as many creative writing, and literature classes as I could during high school and college. I worked in libraries from college through last fall, when circumstances allowed me to write full-time. I’m the current president of the nonprofit organization, Utah Valley Writers, and take full advantage of the great critical minds that frequent the group.

I split my writing time with triathlon training, cooking (especially grilling), my husband, and religion. When not working or training, I dabble in other hobbies such as rock climbing, archery, fencing, and gardening. My not-so-secret desire is to become an American Ninja Warrior.

Non-comprehensive list of favorites as they come to mind:

• Ella Enchanted
• The Goose Girl and Enna Burning
• Hollow Kingdom
• The False Prince
• The Rithmatist
• Airman
• The Lunar Chronicles
• Ruby Red
• Smile
• El Deafo
• The Way of Kings
• Psych
• Monk
• Castle
• Rizzoli and Isles
• NCIS
• Sabrina the Teenage Witch
• Last Man Standing
• Gilmore Girls (mostly seasons 1-2)
• American Ninja Warrior
• Chopped
• Unbreakable (M. Night Shyamalan)
• The Princess Bride
• Ever After
• Batman (the animated series, Christopher Nolan, and comics)
• Superman (the animated series, and Man of Steel)
• Spiderman (spectacular, 90’s animated, Tobey Maguire, and amazing)
• Captain America (Chris Evans)
• Zelda
• Homemade pizza, burgers, Mexican, and Brazilian
• Thai and Indian restaurants
• Chocolate