I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I got my B.A. in English, and my M.A. in Writing and English Lit from the University of Pennsylvania. While there, I also minored in Photography & Film.

Since then I've written novels and nonfiction books, lived in Italy for five years, published articles in national magazines and websites, and worked at lifestyle magazines. I was the editor-in-chief of The Atlantan Magazine; the Home & Garden Editor of Atlanta Magazine; and a Senior Editor and Contributing Writer at Departures Magazine. While in New York I was also a consultant on A&E TV Network documentaries. My nonfiction book Living, Studying, and Working in Italy (published by Henry Holt-Macmillan under the pen name Travis Neighbor Ward) has helped many people follow their dreams as I did.

For the past twenty years I've made Atlanta my home along with my husband, two daughters, and our dogs. In my free time I enjoy walking and painting.