I have a special affinity for a well-crafted essay and have coached hundreds of college-bound hopefuls write and revise application essays. Helping young people shine a light on their path forward brings me satisfaction and joy.

Absent of a book or a laptop, I’ll be found chasing all the beautiful things like ocean waves, whales, musicals, and museums. My husband, two sons, and dog, Luna, join me on this magnificent adventure called life.

Hi, I'm Shelli

A little about me...

My debut novel, Heart of Grit, a YA historical fiction, is now out into the world!

Stories have always been part of me: reading them, writing them, and living inside them. As a child, my make-believe world made sense to me, even if it didn’t to anyone else. Imagination was, and still is, my greatest gift. It’s yours, too!

My favorite childhood book is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Her magical prose took root in me and made me wonder if one day I could turn my own stories into books. My favorite characters are intrepid young heroines who forge ahead, despite their fears.

Studying English at Brigham Young University introduced me to the greats of literature like Virgil, Homer, Shakespeare, and Milton. Three books that have changed my life are, among many, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Awakening by Kate Chopin, and My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. Books continue to transform me.