I grew up in the rural green belt of London, England where I fell in love with literature and literary history. During my undergraduate degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury, and namely an exchange year abroad at UCLA, that love for literature transitioned into a passion for journalism and California sunshine. I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue an MA degree in journalism at USC and continue a freelance career in multimedia storytelling. And I have never looked back.
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My experience includes local, national and international reporting for news outlets such as the LA Weekly, Southern California Public Radio and the New Zealand Herald Tribune. My fascination with hyper-local journalism spawned a thesis about the future of the industry (titled, Can Grassroots Journalism Help Underserved Communities?) and, in 2008, led me to help found a hyper-local website covering South Los Angeles. I was managing editor until early 2011, when Patch became my next adventure.
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Now I live in Concord with my husband, reading, writing, exploring the Bay Area and continuing to drink my tea with milk.
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Beliefs:
1. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato.
2. Never discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.
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Politics: I am a registered Democrat with an open mind to all opinions and factual arguments. I believe that the mind should be a thoroughfare for all thoughts and not a select party.
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Religion: Non-denominational Christian, with an almost pantheistic love for the outdoors and a strong appreciation for being still (Psalm 46:10.)
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Local Hot-Button Issues: Social justice issues that affect quality of life or access to opportunities, including education, immigration, health care and social welfare.
There were 20 burglaries in Concord from Nov. 22 to Nov. 28 — the majority of which were homes. The Sunvalley mall was hit four times, including a burglary at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse.
Susan Pace-Koch founded the Concord-based "Get Out Books" and is currently working on her fifth children's title.
A limited number of pre-sale tickets for the NCS Division 2 championship against Rancho Cotate will be sold during break and lunch Thursday and Friday at Clayton Valley High. The game is Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
A porch was set on fire at at home on Joan Court in Concord Saturday, causing no injuries but $3,000 in damages. Investigators urge anyone with information to get in touch.
In this week's K-9 team profile, Officer Matt Rose shares his love for being the coolest cop on the playground with his 73-pound ally, Pax. All the hair floating around his car though? Not so cool.
This week's featured product from the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association is acorn squash. Here's how to cook it in seasonal fare. Share your own recipes in the comments.
This week's featured product from the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association is acorn squash. Here's how to cook it in seasonal fare. Share your own recipes in the comments.
The fraudster has been siphoning credit and debit card numbers from as early as September and spending the money out of state. EJ Phair has shut down its Internet and online payment system to prevent any further threat.
The fraudster has been siphoning credit and debit card numbers from as early as September using an Internet virus or worm. EJ Phair has shut down its Internet and online payment system to prevent any further threat.
A number of celebrities have ties to Concord — find out which ones here. Do you know of anyone famous to add to the list?
Concord police arrested five drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence over Thanksgiving weekend, compared to seven last year. There were no deaths on the roads locally, but fatalities were up statewide.
A driver is looking for witnesses to an attempted car theft on Saturday morning, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the Lime Ridge Open Space parking lot on Treat Boulevard.
The scene at one mall on Black Friday is captured in this slightly sped up video. If you shopped did it seem like this?
The scene at one mall on Black Friday is captured in this slightly sped up video. If you shopped did it seem like this?
Nov. 24 is a day dedicated to shopping and dining at locally owned stores as part of 'Small Business Saturday'. Which Concord businesses are you supporting with your patronage today?
How crazy was the Sunvalley mall when it opened at midnight for Black Friday sales? Watch the video and find out.
Count your blessings on this day of Thanksgiving and share your gratitude in the comments.
Count your blessings on this day of Thanksgiving and share your gratitude in the comments.
This report from the Concord Police Department tallies the 63 arrests in the past week — up from 52 the week before. Last week included charges of false imprisonment and kidnapping.
There were 20 burglaries in Concord from Nov. 14 to Nov. 19 — up from 13 the week before. Four homes were burgled, as well as eight vehicles, five businesses and two schools — Ygnacio Valley High and Pine Hollow Middle School.
