Suspension

Suspension came about quite by accident. I wanted to write a paragraph for my Character Education students to analyze, and I literally just kept writing. My students read each chapter as I finished it, often asking me to describe what happened next. I would respond honestly that I wouldn't know until it had been written. When my first draft was complete, one of my students was reading it during art. Admonished to focus on her present class, she gave the draft to our school's talented art teacher, who, the following morning, asked to illustrate it.

As I wrote, I found myself revisiting and contemplating my personal experiences with bullying, friendships, expectations, disappointments, successes, and love. In Suspension, Leo Smith gets to live my most remarkable journey! I hope readers will feel that they are living it, as well.

About the Author

I am a native North Carolinian, a graduate of Asheboro High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I also earned an M. Ed. in Public Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. My first career was as a geriatric research manager for Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. I began my second career at Thomasville Middle School as a health and physical education teacher. My academic certifications include health, physical education, reading, and academically gifted education. I was also certified as a personal trainer and aerobics instructor. I taught after school enrichment programs in health research, theater, aerobics, and hand bells.

After moving to Conway, South Carolina, home place of my mother's family for generations, I taught health education, physical education, reading, remedial math, and character education at Green Sea Floyds Middle School in Horry County, South Carolina. I retired from teaching in January, 2017. Since then, I have taught personal trainer certification.

I am married to Tim Lawrence of Mount Airy, North Carolina. I have two children and two grandsons. I am blessed with a wonderful family!

I am an active member of First United Methodist Church in Conway, where my volunteer work includes leading children's programs in hand chimes and hand bells, and facilitating our chamber orchestra. I also participate in our adult hand bell and chancel choirs. I play clarinet and piano.

My passions are family, faith, music, tennis, and the Tar Heels.