Meet Anna

Who’s Anna?

I was born and raised in Georgia—which means I’m hopelessly Southern. I love sweet tea, bare feet, and days spent at the lake. I tell stories for teens and write about the humor and hope found in everyday moments. Spend a couple seconds with me and you’ll learn some of my favorite topics are purpose, authenticity, and life lived with intention. When I’m not creating characters, I love hanging out with real people, wandering the aisles of craft stores, and taking weekend road trips.

I’ve always loved writing and telling stories. As the bossy oldest sister, I made plays for my sisters and me to perform. At age seven, I wrote a country love song and proudly sang it all. the. time. My sisters still haven’t let me live that one down.

I carried my love of stories to college, where I majored in English and concentrated in Creative Writing. I read lots of classic books, studied poetry and fiction, and took a class called “Backyard Games” to fulfill my Wellness credit (if that tells you anything about how athletic I am).

During my college years, I wrote two novels. One of them still sits on a shelf at my desk, waiting for the day I polish it up and share it with the world. I wrote the other one as an undergraduate honors thesis. You know it as All of This. I published this story the summer after graduation, launching me into the world of publishing. My second book, Just One Thing, continues the story of Sadie Franklin.

After earning that bachelor’s degree, I took a semester off before signing up for grad school. I left my beloved hometown and moved up to North Carolina, where I earned a Master of Arts from Southeastern Seminary.

These days, I’m back in Georgia: the place my heart calls home. I married a midwest boy and we have the snuggliest, sweetest little baby (I know I’m biased, but still) and a cat who’s queen of the house. I taught ELA and Bible to teens for several years and spent my days helping students find their voice through developing a love of reading and writing. Now, I’m a homemaker raising our baby while I continue to pen the words in my heart and help others do the same.

 

quick facts:

  • Married to a filmmaker.

  • Introverted people person.

  • Natural red head.

  • Love languages: Quality time. Bread.

  • Bookworm.

  • I love to travel, but home with my family is my favorite place.