ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stephanie is a published author, writer, and speaker. As a native Tennessean and a daughter of the great I AM, she is thankful for the lessons taught and experiences lived through growing up in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley of the 1960s and ‘70s surrounded by family and lifelong friendships.
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Stephanie is a purest in her love of classic Southern dialects and genteel hints of living a Southern lifestyle where no one takes anything for granted. A life where pineapple motifs signal all are welcomed herein. Whether a light breeze blowing off the water, morning fog lifting from the sun's heat, or the laughter of a child filling a room, she intentionally creates a life to slow its pace so the smallest of details are not left unnoticed. She strives to remain true to her roots with an approachable persona where all feel at ease, whether in conversation or someone walking through the backdoor searching for comfort or a place to relax. You may discover her surrounded by ferns on a cool porch with pillows and a cherished quilt tucked into a leisurely-paced movement of a swing inviting you to sit beside her. She enjoys listening to others’ life stories and lessons learned. Some have called her a true creative and incurable romantic.
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If you spend time with her, you will soon discover she is an eager student of American and British history, an interior design enthusiast with a love of architecture and gardens, an amateur genealogist, a sketch artist, seamstress, and needlework hobbyist. Bookstores are her weakness - a trait she passed on to her children. You will often find her reading murder mysteries and the classics. A few of her favorite authors include Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, John Grisham, Pat Conroy, and David Baldacci. Stephanie enjoys watching period and historical romance sequels, including epic fantasy/sci-fi movie series, and a fantastic fascination with detective British television programming - her latest preference being Endeavor, filmed in one of her favorite cities, Oxford, England. Throw in an afternoon tea, and she is set.​
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Throughout her professional career of working in the corporate world for nearly forty years, she considers herself fortunate to have worked shoulder-to-shoulder with incredible mentors - many of whom have influenced her without their knowledge. Never satisfied with a stagnant life or unreached potential, she is constantly reinventing herself. Her latest adventures include learning the piano and creating a children’s book series.
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Most importantly, she is thankful to her heavenly father for His tender mercies and incredible blessings - her family is everything. She is proud of her Appalachian heritage and life's guidance of her family elders. She is never more at peace than when time spent with those she loves surrounded by water and sand or trees and "a mountain to lay (rest) my eyes against" - a favored quote adopted from North Carolina author, Lee Smith, in Fair and Tender Ladies. Currently, she lives in West Georgia with her talented husband where you will find them renovating their seventy-year-old home and four acres of gardens they lovingly call Oakstone. Blessed with three beautiful children, their spouses/significant others, and one perfectly gorgeous granddaughter, their lifelong ambition is to celebrate life to its fullest, surrounded by family and friends, with faith in God as their anchor.​
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Beneath the Kudzu is her debut novel.