What was your first job as a journalist?
Photography for high school newspaper and yearbook, then copyeditor in college
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Proudly own a 1950s Smith Corona with teal keys and a tan base.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Hildy Johnson as played by Rosalind Russell in "His Girl Friday." But honorary mention to Charles Foster Kane as a cautionary tale.
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
School security design, which I've covered multiple times
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Hone your interview skills by watching clips from talk shows (late night and daytime) - there are some great interviewers and some to avoid.
When's the best time to pitch you?
I only work on assignment.
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Tinkering with recipes in my kitchen, on a nature trail, or reading on the couch.
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
As a nature enthusiastic and foodie, Iowa Outdoors, National Geographic, and Bon Appetit grace my coffee table.
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Writing about buildings is boring - hardly!
