About Me
My Ojibwa name, "Bekaadiziikwe" means, "Quiet Woman."
I'm an internationally-published award-winning Ojibwa author and speaker.
The creative writing side of me includes 10 years of newspaper and photo-journalistic work. The genres I work in include Native American children's picture books, YA fiction, plays, non-fiction, and fiction writing. A hybrid author, I am traditionally published and indie-published. I have presented at many different venues, and travel frequently throughout the Midwest doing book signings and Native American programs.
Musical theater is a big part of my life. I've been a lyricist, singer, actor, and director for many years, and in my quiet time I make dream catchers, and drum and sing.
Married to Andy, we have four children and 9 grandchildren. We live in Freeport, IL. with our two dogs, both Jack Russell mixes, Animosh and Miika. Animosh means, "dog" in Ojibwa. She's affectionately known as, "Ani." (Anee). "Miika" (Meeka) means, "beautiful" in Ojibwa. Cats Luna, Cozette, and Inde' "my heart" in Ojibwa, help make up our very lively household.
I’m very honored to have been chosen to be on the 2023-24 roster for the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Speakers Bureau. I will be presenting a new program for them, Singing Bird and the Importance of Native American Women in Illinois History.
Chloris Lowe and I at the blessing of the Thunderbird Mound at Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve in Galena, IL. Chloris is a Ho-Chunk elder from the Thunderbird clan.
My dogs and I love to sit outside on the porch of our Victorian home and enjoy the weather when we can. Ani is the tan and white one and Miika is black and white. They were both rescues.
I do many craft shows throughout the year.