Welcome to my website:
I’m an award-winning author, storyteller, artist, and educator. My compelling call-to-action in both visual and literary arts is about personal narratives, relationships, loss, redemption, and transformation, with universal and inspiring messages. My work in words and images is nuanced and textured.

My fine art currently showcases my clay monotype series. The Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, CT selected pieces to be in the Connecticut Printmakers invitational exhibition, “View from a Matrix” 4/28/24 – 6/2/2024. Reception is Saturday, May 18, 5pm – 8pm.

Published essays and poems of mine offer openings of understanding through true stories. Audiences testify I’m a memorable speaker through the art and craft of authentic storytelling. In tandem, I’m a Poet-in-Residence in schools with Silvermine Art Partners and a Guest Lecturer at universities across the country, teaching feature writing/personal narrative essays in Journalism, Public Relations, and New Media Departments.

Publication date 4/17/24, “Clarity: Stories About the Moment That Changed it All.” Beautiful true stories from writers around the world (including me) and 100% of the money goes to Planned Parenthood. Yes please! E-books can be pre-ordered now https://tinyurl.com/ClarityUS. Soft/hardcovers available at same link on 4/17/24. My story is “A Devoted Chamber of My Heart Opens.”

Listen to me being interviewed by dynamic communicator, Denise DiGrigoli, on “Mav’s Coffee Clarity” podcast. Tune in to hear an unrehearsed, unscripted, unedited, inspiring dose of creativity and clarity here. Watch it on YouTube here.

News Flash: 2024 Storytelling World Resource Award recipient for my heartfelt story “Overcoming Fear with Help From the Whales” published in the book “ANIMALS: Personal Tales of Encounters With Spirit Animals” by Sacred Stories Publishing.

Winner in the 2023 National Federation of Press Women Professional Communications Contest, 2X!
Web and Social Media – Personal Website: First Place
Writing – Personal Essay: Honorable Mention

Winner in the 2022 Connecticut Press Club Communications Contest, 4X!
Personal Essay: First Place
Personal Website: First Place
Speeches: Second Place and Third Place

Visual Storytelling
Connecticut Press Club Award Winner Third Place – Speeches: My 2022 PechaKucha presentation, “Art Saved My Life: Journey of a Lifetime” is published on the international platform. Please be advised that it is a powerful discussion with adult content about healing and transformation. It’s 6min/40sec with the spoken word and images. View and listen here.

My 2021 PechaKucha visual story “Creativity is the Mother of Reinvention.” View and listen on the global website here.

“Awesome and Awe-inspiring PechaKucha. Your story is so powerful and the images are amazing.”
from a 2022 PechaKucha visual storytelling viewer
(More testimonials)

Connecticut Press Club Award Winner Second Place – Speeches: Watch my 2022 sermon/homily “A.R.T.: Action, Reflection, Transformation” presented live at The Unitarian Church in Westport, CT, here. (13:26-41:01)

Writing
Connecticut Press Club Award Winner First Place – Personal Essay: I write personal narrative non-fiction essays and poems. I am published in books and anthologies. Most recently, I’m a contributing author in Animals: Personal Tales of Encounters with Spirit Animals published by Sacred Stories Publishing. My story is on page 133, “Overcoming Fear With Help From the Whales.” Available at your favorite bookstore or online.

~ Darien Library, Darien, CT asked me to create and give a presentation on promoting yourself as a writer, you can watch it and take notes here.

Art
My fine art: I’m currently creating a one-woman show as a large multi-media performance art piece, stay tuned! I lost 50-years worth of my original art in a flood right before a retrospective, this piece explores loss, redemption, and transformation.

I’ve worked in photography, printmaking, and mixed media. With a fine art career spanning half a century, I’ve created both realistic and abstract images. I’ve worked in personal narratives examining identity, love and relationships, coming of age, self-acceptance, and transformation.

Three of my lithographs and engravings were juried into the “Responding to the Overturn of ROE V WADE Anthropology of Motherhood” virtual exhibition. You can view this powerful artist call to action here. I am honored to have my art included. While I created the prints several years ago, their powerful messages resonate today.

~ Watch and listen to my Gallery Talk at the Carriage Barn Arts Center, Spectrum Contemporary Juried Art Exhibition, New Canaan, CT here.

~ Check out my art video essay for the Bridgeport, CT Public Schools, Arts Count Day, here.

~ Be inspired by watching my video about my creative process of making clay monoprints here.