Meet the Author

I have lived in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, since 1998, where I began my love for sea turtles. The first year after moving from Texas to South Carolina, I was eager to meet new friends. One night, while attending a Friday night beach social, I met a lovely lady-Betsy Brabson, Head of the S.C.U.T.E. (South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts) program for DeBordieu and North Island. Since I was already up at 5:00 a.m. feeding a 1-month-old daughter who had to be born on Texas soil, I began training under Betsy, walking early mornings on the North End of DeBordieu and Hobcaw Barony beaches. South Carolina has been my home for 25 years, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!

Education

BS in Science and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas, USA.

I taught 6th and 8th Grades Science in Houston, Texas, and K3 in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. I love children, whether it is teaching them in Sunday School or on the beach about turtles. Children are our future!

Family

I am married to my wonderful husband of 37 years; I have two beautiful daughters who both grew up on Pawleys Island. I have two sweet and talented grandchildren and one brand new little baby girl. Along with one very tall son-in-law.

My Interests

My love for the beach comes from spending summers with my sisters and cousins at our Nannie’s beach house in Crystal Beach, TX. We loved going out with our grandfather, shrimping during the day and flounder gigging at night. I have lived on the water ever since! I love walking the beach year-round, looking for sharks’ teeth, state olive shells, and the elusive Pawley shell. I love fishing for flounder, and even though I am not very good at it, it is still great fun! I love putting out crab traps for the best blue crab. We love kayaking the marsh, putting us in another world, enjoying nature, birds feeding, and fish jumping. So, you can see the love for the sea and swamp is in my blood. The sea turtles have an extraordinary place in my heart, and I am very blessed to be a part of the Pawleys Island S.C.U.T.E. team headed by Dr. Phil Schneider and Mary Schneider and joining us this year, Rick Scott as the area director.

Books

In my first book, Little One, I acknowledge Betsy Brabson and Mary Brown Schneider for all the training and knowledge I received to become part of the SCUTE program. Thank you both for sparking my love for the sea turtles. In addition, the entire volunteer program for helping to take the Loggerhead turtles off the endangered list by helping save the Loggerhead turtles.