| MY STORY |
Welcome, my friend! I’m Stephanie. I’m so happy you’re here! Born and raised in sunny Southern California, I am a wife to my college sweetheart, mom of three growing girls, and a writer since the day I could write. I have a number of noteworthy passions—coffee, books, fashion, running, leopard print, friendship, Jesus, family, and travel, to name a few.
But I’m guessing the one that brought you here is the one that really connects us.
I love to tell stories.
To write them down. To memorialize what matters most. To put words to the things we feel and know, but don’t always know how to describe. I believe the right stories have the power to change the world.
And I believe in the power of yours.
The one you are living this breath.
I have a passion for encouraging women everywhere through love, empathy, humor, and truth—to help them see the wonder and beauty daily within their own lives.
I worked full-time as a writer in various capacities—public relations, marketing, and commercial real estate—for a number of years before taking the plunge into stay-at-home mom land. Soon after, in 2014, I started blogging at MOMentary Insanity®, where I’ve never held back on matters of faith and motherhood, and where I’ve met many of you! My writing has also appeared on Scary Mommy, Faithit, Coffee + Crumbs, and more. Most recently, I followed the call inside of my soul that began as a quiet whisper, but eventually screamed louder, and shriller, until I could no longer send it to voicemail. I needed to finally answer.
I needed to write a book.
The result was my debut novel, When We Blinked. That book literally poured from heaven into my veins. I felt the characters, heard them speak, saw the entire story play in my head, like a movie, before I ever penciled a word. I just knew I had to sit down and write, and God would be faithful to dictate.
Spoiler alert: He was.
Almost immediately after When We Blinked hit the world, I started dreaming, planning, and outlining Book #2, Suing Cinderella, based upon a novel idea I’d had since grad school. This whimsical story flowed just as naturally, totally stealing my heart. I have eight more fiction concepts floating around in my head, one of them already outlined.
Why fiction, you ask?
So many reasons, but I had something of an audible God moment several years ago. To be honest, I was momentarily burnt out on blogging. On sharing about myself. On weighing the privacy of my growing daughters with the need for new content and posts. I felt a shift in my heart. And then one day, as if from above, the clear thought sparked like a light.
I don’t want to preach at people, as if I have all the answers.
I just want to tell them stories.
Isn’t that what Jesus did?
Of course, I’ll keep sharing plenty from my own life! But more significantly, I want to tell the stories we share. And fiction, for me, I have found, is a phenomenal tool for doing so. For tapping into the mystery, pain, and joy of the human experience.
Let’s see, what else would you like to know about me?
I have a Master of Professional Writing degree from USC, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. These degrees are far from the most interesting things about me, but they have equipped me to do what I love and wield my pen like a sword. I was a Kappa Alpha Theta, my birthday is November 8, and fall is my favorite season. I’m still madly in love with my husband of fourteen years, Doug, yet we share a mission to be transparent about the complexities and challenges inherent to marriage. Our daughters are our favorite adventure buddies, and also very good at keeping us humble. We finally got a boy dog this year: a Bernedoodle named Stanley. My relationship with God is where everything starts and ends for me. Without Him, I am a mess. With Him, I am… less of a mess.
Did I mention I’m so happy you’re here?! I hope this little corner of the internet feels like another fun place to hang out with me.
I can promise I’ll never stop writing.
I can promise I’ll never stop telling the truth as I know it to be in my bones.
And I can promise I’ll never stop cheering for you and the exquisiteness of your story.
Thank you with all of my heart for reading my work!
I want to hear from you!
Take a peek by getting a FREE download of the Prelude & Chapter One!
Perfect for fans of Legally Blonde and our most famous fairy tales, Suing Cinderella is a contemporary romance that will have you begging the question: What does it take to win at happily ever after?
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In 2024, one specific piece of writing advice has persisted in reaching my ears. Through the Booked Solid podcast, landing my dream agent, and my ever-trustworthy author friends, the message echoes: Get out of the slush pile.