Once Upon a Time . . .
Professional Affiliations
I’m an active member of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, the Editorial Freelancers Association, the Northwest Independent Editors Guild, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Hugo House in Seattle.
For more details about my professional experience, click here for my résumé.
Or check out my professional profile on Linkedin.
After Hours
I’m committed to fostering literacy and a love of reading in children and adults. My
volunteer efforts have included working with detained teen girls through the Juvenile Court Book Club in San Diego and with first graders at Peter Kirk Elementary School in Kirkland, Washington. I also support the Seattle and King County library systems as well as
Seattle Arts & Lectures and the Northwest Film Forum.
It so happens I delight in the magic that spontaneously ignites when interesting people of all ages sit down to share a good meal and a few stories around a big table. I have a blast volunteering at The Pantry, a “community kitchen” that offers cooking classes, family “feasts,” and other culinary adventures in Seattle’s lively Ballard neighborhood.
Yoga, gentle bike rides, long walks in the spectacular Pacific Northwest, travel adventures hither and yon, and laughter shared with family and friends help keep my head clear and my heart full. I live in Seattle but work with clients throughout the United States and beyond.
My “story” and the steps along the way that led to a rewarding career in trade publishing are admittedly clichéd. To wit: From the age of five or so, when I first
scrawled Robin Cruise on the application for a library card in Falls Church, Virginia,
I was hooked on books—and I often shared reading and other adventures with my
twin brother. Lucky me! It could be that the intermittently miserable climate in suburban Washington, DC, had much to do with my frequent and far-flung detours within the pages of a book. Whatever the explanation, I was a voracious reader throughout childhood and adolescence—and I went on to plumb literature and
history, while also dabbling in design, at Middlebury College and beyond.
I suspect that the combination of my Irish and Italian heritage fueled the joy of sharing good stories, music, and food, all laced with some high jinks and drama to add spice along the way. Heaven forbid anyone should spend even one day bored or hungry! Whatever the explanation, every job I’ve held for more than 20 years, including a long chapter with Harcourt Trade Publishers, has linked directly to my unflagging commitment to good reading and writing.
For additional personal and professional context, click here.
