You can call me Liz.
Girl with a Hello Kitty Diary
I could give you my degrees and job titles (and I will — read on), but the truth is, I’ve always been a story-chaser. From the moment I could hold a pencil and put words together in my Hello Kitty diary in kindergarten, I was writing down what I saw, what I felt, and all the things I couldn’t explain any other way. Pretty soon, I was thinking about the stories I wanted to tell — and for better or worse — making them happen.
That Time I Faked My Own Death
At 14, I faked my own death. (Long story. [Read about it here.])
Hollywood & High Seas
At 18, I got my start in Hollywood — where great stories are born — working as an actor and production assistant. In my 20s, I traveled the world, writing about escapades in Ecuador, New York City, and eventually life as a Jr. Waiter on a cruise ship sailing the Hawaiian Islands.
Loss, College, & A New Beginning
When my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, I went home to California to be with him. After he died, I decided to follow his advice and return to school, going from high school dropout to commencement speaker — and eventually earning my master’s degree in 2018.
Bus Life & Motherhood
In my 30s, I sold everything and lived on a school bus I converted with my former partner, called Little House on the HWY, traveling the country and writing for travel magazines and blogs. Then, during the pandemic, I followed my heart and high school sweetheart to Phoenix, Arizona, where I became a mom to two wild and beautiful little girls.
Every Job, A Story
Along the way, I’ve worked as a journalist, a cruise ship waitress, a compliance coordinator, an editor, a publicist, and an educator. Every job taught me something — but storytelling has always been the throughline.
Today, I’m a creative nonfiction writer and speaker, focused on the coming-of-age moments that shape us — and reshape us. My work blends humor, heart, and a dash of chaos, because that’s how life works.
Professional Snapshot
- M.A. in American Studies, Kennesaw State University
- B.A. in Human Communication, California State University, Monterey Bay
- Former Editor-in-Chief, Otter Realm Newspaper, Bus Life Adventure, Faces of Woodstock
- Experienced public speaker & workshop leader
- Published writer with a knack for turning life’s curveballs into unforgettable stories