I grew up in Oxford, NC and received my Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Mathematics from Duke University. After graduation, I worked as a computer programmer in Winston-Salem and Philadelphia, PA.

I was a "stay-at-home" wife and Mother before going back to school. I earned my Master's of Arts Degree in Anthropology at UNC, Chapel Hill -ABD Anthropology. In 1996-97 I started working with a cousin to clean up hog lagoons and moved to Ayden. I took a small business accounting class at Pitt County Community College with Marjorie Franck, and ended up with a part-time job with Franck & Associates. I am now a senior bookkeeper at Moore Business Solutions.

In 2001 I opened Random Sample, Mysteries and More in Ayden -- originally all new books & miscellaneous merchandise. My store has morphed into a used bookstore, with still a lot of mysteries but now includes all kinds of books, including a children's section. I do take books as trade-ins.