about alexandra

I'm Alexandra, aspiring young adult novelist, full time day-dreamer and storyteller and author in training!

I have loved reading since before I can even remember. Most of my memories from childhood include me having a book in hand; from listening to my daddy read all seven Harry Potter books to my siblings and I (complete with voices and Dumbledore's famed steepled fingers), to reading A Little Princess over and over again when I should have been sleeping, to reading during lunch time at school like the little introverted book worm that I am. Books have been a safe place, an escape and a long lasting friendship for as long as I can remember. 

I wrote my first "novel" in junior high. (I say "novel" because it says "Chapter One" at the top of the page in big letters so I assume I intended for it to be a longer project.) Its cringe-worthy and angsty and adorable and everything you imagine a thirteen year old's first novel might be. I continued writing short stories off and on through high school, excelled in my English classes (and not much else...) and went to college to become an English teacher just like my dad. 

Some time in my rough first year at college someone handed me a book called Twilight and everything changed.... 

(no, not like that.)

I finished the first book in my dorm room in the middle of the night, put it down on my bed and thought. 

I can do better than that. 

I was so fueled by disappointment and early onset feminist rage that I vowed to one day write a better story. One that didn't leave me horrified at the borderline abusive relationship and utterly insipid female protagonist. This one moment was so influential, I actually changed my major to Creative Writing, and spent the last semester of my college career writing my senior thesis on the damaging psychological effects of the Twilight series on young adult women. (oh man was that fun to present.)

Write a better story.

This has become my mantra over the last six years or so, since I changed my major, drafted my first novel and realized for the first time that I had crushing anxiety with a side of debilitating depression. (isn't it fun when those two go hand in hand?) I have been talking about wanting to be a writer for years now, but the demon that is depression has kept me writing the same story. The same fear of failure, fear of disapproval, fear of getting out of bed and turning on my computer. Its only in the last year or so, after trying yoga, medication, counseling and a score of other things, that I have begun to understand how much writing a better story is so much bigger than creating a better romantic hero than Edward Cullen. I am writing a better story for my life. One where writing novels and sharing my thoughts are my therapy, where giving voice to depression could help someone else like me, where writing a novel is about so much more than words on a page or books on shelves. 

I believe stories can change us. 

I believe they can create communities of like minded people and remind us that we are not alone. I believe they can give us the strength to get through the toughest times. I believe that the right story can save a life. That the Gospel, your testimony, an essay or a novel can be the catalyst for real change in a broken heart.

I also believe that we should hold our stories to a higher standard. I know how much the stories I read as a child, and as a teen, and even now as an adult, have changed the way I thought about the world, how I have viewed myself and molded what I want out of the world. Someday, I hope that my daughters meet Anne Shirley and Sara Crew before they engage with Bella Swan, that they are team Gilbert before team Jacob, that they learn how to save the world with Hermione before they ever, ever aspire to simply be saved in their own story. I think that the books we read can start really interesting conversations about our culture, and can teach really powerful lessons through laughter and tears and groans and all that good stuff.

And that is why I want to be a writer.


But enough babbling... on to introductions!

I am a twenty-something reading, writing, creating and dreaming in Sacramento, California (for now... ooh intrigue). 

I'm doing this crazy thing called life with my best friend, my husband Aaron. He is also my editor-in-chief, first reader and sounding board. I'm a big fan of him. 

We like playing cribbage at dive bars, going on spur of the moment adventures, playing dungeons and dragons (oh yes, we are major nerds and proud of it) making messes in the kitchen and sharing good coffee. 

             

couple o' fun facts

Given the choice, I will always choose a rainy day over a sunny one. 

I am just a child at heart; I love Disney (actually listening to the Disney Pandora station as I write this), I love Adventure Time, well illustrated children's books and dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets.

I am a Hufflepuff, and a huge Harry Potter fan. 

I read the last page first. #spoliers

I am an Instagram addict.

I'm a foodie. I love food. Cooking meals for people I love is my love language. I wish potatoes were their own food group and that bread didn't make you fat. 

I love Jesus, and owe all to his grace and power in my life.

I'm crazy about my crazy, loud, beautiful family. 

I'm looking forward to having my first book published, traveling to Asia with my husband (soon...) and someday having a beautifully blended family of little blonde babies and as many as the Lord will let us adopt. 

Be sure to check me out on Pinterest for more about writing, food, and stuff I love.