A Bit About Me
& You…

I am a fifth-generation Irish-Minnesotan and mother of two grown sons. I was named after my Great-Aunt Nora and have Murphy’s on both sides of my family. I grew up in Minneapolis, raised my children in St. Paul, and now live a few blocks from the Mississippi back in Minneapolis.

I loved writing when I was a child, but when I got to college, I struggled. It wasn’t until I was asked to help write grant proposals for a Southeast Asian refugee organization in 1989 that I began regaining confidence. My words could make a difference for others. Over the next 35 years, I raised over $125 million in grants for nonprofits, primarily in partnership with Native American community groups. (I also managed to graduate from the University of Chicago and earn an MFA from Hamline!)

After my first child was born, I began writing outside of work—to better understand my place in the world and the responsibilities I have as a mother, a neighbor, and a two-legged creature. I have published or co-authored six books. Now I’m working on three novels. Unlearning racism and white supremacy is an ongoing focus in my writing. So, too, is reconnecting and reclaiming my Irish heritage and the healing energies of Indigenous Ireland. But none of us can do the work needed to heal this world alone. Collaboration is essential. I’d love to listen and learn with you!