My love for reading began when I was about eight years old. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White was the first book I can remember reading. I have vivid memories of being excited about weekly class trips to the library. I would search the shelves until I found the perfect book that would take me on an adventurous journey with vibrant, life-like characters.
It was at the age of fifteen when an upperclassman slipped me a Harlequin romance novel. Immediately I became engrossed in the romance genre. Years later when I discovered there were romance novels written by African American women with African American characters I nearly lost my mind! I have an extensive library of romance novels that just keeps growing and growing.
My love for this genre and a need to find a place of escapism is what encouraged me to write my first novel A Special Summer. For me, being able to sit down and write for hours transported me into another a world. It was a world where I could forget about the troubles of the day and get lost in the lives of my characters.
Although reading and writing are near and dear to my heart, being a nurse practitioner is my first love. I’ve dedicated my career as a nurse to taking care of patients with Sickle Cell disease. Community involvement also plays a crucial role in my life as a nurse.
In 2002 I started a free hypertension clinic at my church to help bring awareness to the African American community on the importance of screening and management of the disease. In addition, I’ve organized blood drives for children with Sickle Cell Disease and health fairs on various health issues affecting our communities.
In 2004 I was nominated for the Nightingale Award. I was also nominated for the Nursing Spectrum Regional Nursing Excellence Award for Clinical Care in May of 2005. After winning that nomination I went on to win the National Nursing Excellence Award for Clinical Care in the fall of 2005. The following year The American Women’s Heritage Society, National Association University Women, National Sorority Phi Delta Kappa, Top Ladies of Distinction, and 2000 African American Women bestowed upon me the Movers and Shakers Award for Women’s History Month.
I’m also a proud member of Theta Chapter – Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, International Association of Sickle Cell Nurses and Physician Assistants, and National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
I live in the Philadelphia area with my wonderful husband and three beautiful children.
Victoria
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