The Basics
It seems almost silly to say I am a writer. You already know this about me, after all. But there it is, the basic reason I have this website and you are reading about me. I write novels and you can find all kinds of information about the ones I've been lucky enough to publish on these pages. I write poetry, too. I began this writing journey as a poet. There's a page here with some of my poems and once in while, I post one or two of my poems on my blog.
I've won some awards and been nominated for a few more. I'm very proud of this to be sure, but more important are readers who connect with what I write. I always try to imagine an invisible reader (you maybe?) looking over my shoulder as I work on a new project.
What else? I write, or try to, every day. I'm constantly spreading my writing wings, I'm a wonk when it comes to things like creating a great opening, shining up sentences, making scenes come to life. I'll never be perfect, but I practice. A lot. Since I believe you can learn from other writers, I also read. A lot.
So you won't think I spend all my time sitting at my desk and staring out the window,--I should mention that writing includes a whole lot of staring out of windows while day dreaming-- I do have more of a life than just that. I have a terrific family, a husband and two grown sons. I'm a grandma to two little ones. I like walking around in the woods near my home in New Hampshire. I love the theater, and hubby and I go whenever time and money allow. I used to ski a lot, in my younger days it was a central part of my life, though now I'm content with a quiet cross country route through snowy woods. I enjoy photography, which is another creative way of telling stories, and you'll find my pictures posted here, too. I love food, am fond of chocolate and also wine. I drink far too much coffee. I can't spell to save my life, which is one of many reasons I adore my editors and also why I sometimes make embarrassing mistakes on posts. I am, however, a wiz at grammar. Gifts differing, I guess.
That about sums it up...
I've won some awards and been nominated for a few more. I'm very proud of this to be sure, but more important are readers who connect with what I write. I always try to imagine an invisible reader (you maybe?) looking over my shoulder as I work on a new project.
What else? I write, or try to, every day. I'm constantly spreading my writing wings, I'm a wonk when it comes to things like creating a great opening, shining up sentences, making scenes come to life. I'll never be perfect, but I practice. A lot. Since I believe you can learn from other writers, I also read. A lot.
So you won't think I spend all my time sitting at my desk and staring out the window,--I should mention that writing includes a whole lot of staring out of windows while day dreaming-- I do have more of a life than just that. I have a terrific family, a husband and two grown sons. I'm a grandma to two little ones. I like walking around in the woods near my home in New Hampshire. I love the theater, and hubby and I go whenever time and money allow. I used to ski a lot, in my younger days it was a central part of my life, though now I'm content with a quiet cross country route through snowy woods. I enjoy photography, which is another creative way of telling stories, and you'll find my pictures posted here, too. I love food, am fond of chocolate and also wine. I drink far too much coffee. I can't spell to save my life, which is one of many reasons I adore my editors and also why I sometimes make embarrassing mistakes on posts. I am, however, a wiz at grammar. Gifts differing, I guess.
That about sums it up...
How do you pronounce that?
It's okay, I get asked a lot. My name is pronounced Ooh-teh. Kind of like you're looking at fireworks, you know ooh, aah. Ooh Tah. Like that. Well, not quite, if you want to put a finer point on it 'te' is pronounced 'teh', but I'm not a stickler, so if you say Utah or Ohtah I won't be offended.
The name has nothing to do with the Native American tribe, which is pronounced yute, although I do feel an affinity for the tribe just because of the coincidence. Actually, it's a German name. I was born in Germany, in Dusseldorf to be exact. When I was five, my folks decided they'd pack up their worldly goods and move to America. So I'm a first generation immigrant.
The name used to embarrass me a bit when I was young. On the first day of school, the new teacher would inevitably stop roll call when she got to the M's. My maiden name is Moennighoff, which adds to the mouthful and even the bravest of souls would sigh, clear their throat and say "I'm not sure how to pronounce this next one." It got so I'd raise my hand right after the throat clearing. "Yeah, that's me. Ooh Teh. Don't worry about the last name." As I got older, I came to appreciate having an unusual name. I like that it's unique and different enough to warrant a whole section on my about page.
I've met two other Utes on social media and we've become friends because we share an uncommon name. If you are an Ute, I would love to get to know you better. If you are not an Ute, I'd love to get to know you better anyway.
As an aside, Carbone is my hubby's name and it's pronounced like the compound word--car, bone. Some people with this sir name use Carboni, which is a more Italian version. I was once called Mrs. Car-bon-ie, which must be the French version.
My name doesn't have any particular meaning. Ute was the mother of Siegfried the dragon slayer in the Teutonic legends of Siegfried and the Niberlungs. I do have two sons, neither is named Siegfried. As far as I know, neither is a dragon slayer.
The name has nothing to do with the Native American tribe, which is pronounced yute, although I do feel an affinity for the tribe just because of the coincidence. Actually, it's a German name. I was born in Germany, in Dusseldorf to be exact. When I was five, my folks decided they'd pack up their worldly goods and move to America. So I'm a first generation immigrant.
The name used to embarrass me a bit when I was young. On the first day of school, the new teacher would inevitably stop roll call when she got to the M's. My maiden name is Moennighoff, which adds to the mouthful and even the bravest of souls would sigh, clear their throat and say "I'm not sure how to pronounce this next one." It got so I'd raise my hand right after the throat clearing. "Yeah, that's me. Ooh Teh. Don't worry about the last name." As I got older, I came to appreciate having an unusual name. I like that it's unique and different enough to warrant a whole section on my about page.
I've met two other Utes on social media and we've become friends because we share an uncommon name. If you are an Ute, I would love to get to know you better. If you are not an Ute, I'd love to get to know you better anyway.
As an aside, Carbone is my hubby's name and it's pronounced like the compound word--car, bone. Some people with this sir name use Carboni, which is a more Italian version. I was once called Mrs. Car-bon-ie, which must be the French version.
My name doesn't have any particular meaning. Ute was the mother of Siegfried the dragon slayer in the Teutonic legends of Siegfried and the Niberlungs. I do have two sons, neither is named Siegfried. As far as I know, neither is a dragon slayer.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
There's been a long list of things I've wanted to be. Some of them were fanciful- ballerina, trapeze artist, world class ski racer. Some more serious-doctor, oceanographer, bookstore owner. Some I've actually accomplished- teacher, mother, workshop leader.
I've always loved to read books but for most of my life I never would have imagined myself writing them. Oh, I scribbled. I wrote songs for my guitar when I was a teen. I kept a journal in college. When my children were small, I began to write poetry. I joined a poetry group. I got a few things published. Then, in a writing workshop, I began writing fiction A seed got planted. The stories I wrote got longer and longer until one day I found myself writing a novel. I finished the novel in fits and starts and wrote another one. Then another. Each time, I learned a little more about the art and craft. of storytelling.
Each time, I got to enter a brand new world. Through my characters, I've gotten to be a lot of things, from a shark researcher to an 1850's heiress to a ski patrol woman. Who knows what's next? Writer, it's the perfect job for the girl who wanted to be everything.
