Inspired by her deep faith and desire to provide quality, principled books for people of all ages, Lori launched her writing career in 2006 with Gates & Fences: Straight Talk in a Crooked World. The high praise received from this thought-provoking work opened doors for Lori to step out in a new arena as a public speaker where she now puts her years of teaching experience and charismatic personality to good use.

"My goal is to equip, educate, entertain, and encourage," says Lori, and she pulls it all off in her own unique style. In October 2007, she released Quilting Patches of Life. Testimonies flooded in to Affirming Faith as people shared how this inspirational book touched their lives with healing and strength. The Girl in the Dress, written for More to Life ministries, broke sales records and was reprinted three times in its first six months on the market. Lori continues to develop new resources each year including books in several categories: inspirational, discipleship, fiction, devotional and spiritual growth.

Raised in Paducah, Kentucky, second of four girls, Lori grew up with her nose in a book and a desire in her heart to write. Turbulent youth and teen years littered with hardship and poor choices spiraled into tarnished twenties, but ultimately compelled her to call on Jesus.

"If God can use me, He really can use anybody," Lori affirms with a cheezy smile. Behind the smile a joyful heart carries an inspiring message of hope and endurance. "I heard Dr. Gerald Jeffers say...first you get a mess...then you get a message...then you get to be the messenger. It's so true, and I love to share the Lord with others."

By the grace of God Lori overcame the obstacles of her past, but life's difficulties continued when she was widowed at 32 with 2 young children.  After the loss of her husband, she married again to face the myriad emotional issues of a blended family.  "Life isn't always easy, or what we expected it to be," Lori says, "but it can still be good—because God is good."