I was born on December 31, 1952, the only daughter among three brothers to Jack and Lassie Madden. I began writing at the age of ten when I received a most precious gift, my first diary. Squashed in a whirlpool of testosterone, I never felt I had a voice and the only way to be heard was to scribble my inner most thoughts in the white, leather bound book that later became my bible.

I grew up in San Carlos, Calfornia, a sleepy post World War II suburb of San Francisco, and endured twelve years of Catholic education: St. Charles Grammer School, Mercy High School and finally, the University of San Francisco. I went onto a career in real estate, involving my talents with the corporate aspects of keeping firms running smoothly and later became a wife and mother of four. The opposite of my childhood - three girls and one boy.

In 2001, I suffered  a tumultuous divorce that shredded the very core of my being and self esteem. But it was through this experience that my writing flourished. Fearful my children would never really know me,I wrote my first memoir, "My Life in a Tutu."  Soon after, I found herself writing my own column for the local newspaper, The Town Crier, titled "Haugh About That."

I would love any comments on my writing, good or bad. It's how any of us will ever get better at our craft and evolve. I look forward to read as many of your pieces too in the up coming months.