Family stories fascinate me.

I believe every person — famous or unknown --  is triumphant in their own way. Their stories carry timeless lessons that extend far beyond what they might have imagined as they were living them. Discovering these hidden treasures what gives me joy as a writer, reader, and editor. My work is driven by my love of helping people find the extraordinary in their own stories. 

Writing 
My first book, “Farewell, Aleppo: My Father, My People, and Their Long Journey Home,” grew from a small family project to an award-winning book and talks all over the country. We never know where the process will take us when (to paraphrase Virginia Woolf), the pen picks up the scent. The real prize of writing comes in passing down new understandings to readers whose experiences may be vastly different from those of the people we write about, but who share common feelings, hopes and concerns. 

My next book, written as a series of letters to my mother in the year after her death, traces my grandparents’ journeys from the Middle East to America, through Cairo, Aleppo, Haiti, Manchester and Paris. Weaving family interviews, memories, dreams, deep research, and respectful imagination, it explores the profound and mysterious ways our lives are shaped by the experiences of our ancestors. 

For lighter fare, I have been writing personal essays that combine two of my favorite subjects: family and food. All four of these articles that I submitted in the New Mexico Press Women 2025 Communications Contest won awards, from First to Third Place. Find these articles, with photos and recipes, here.

Editing
​​In my writing classes I like to say, “It takes more than interesting life to make an interesting story, but it helps.” Completing the process takes wise, heartfelt writing, and skillful, respectful editing. 

I love helping new or experienced writers take their project from a rough idea to a polished manuscript, whether for publication, a family keepsake, or their own personal journey. I take on projects that I love, because I find editing can be a joy that complements the joys of writing. I work on a per-page or per-project basis, in the consultation, developmental editing, line editing, or proofreading stage as needed. In addition to family stories, my specialties are science, nature, and history.  Contact me to see how I might help you bring your beloved project to fruition.