I came to book arts as a photographer and writer, using the handmade or digitally printed book form to allow the viewer to hold and examine my photos and text. Books — physical books — have always been an essential part of my life.

In my handmade books, the structure or function of the traditional book serves as inspiration for expressing my ideas. As a writer, I incorporate text. I enjoy choosing materials and the tactile experience of cutting, pasting, and sewing. Some of my books have a traditional format in which a story is told by turning pages. Others are more sculptural, using images, letterpress, handwriting, cutouts, and antique and painted paper.

My books present two ideas for viewers to consider. First, each book is a made object that nods to what a book does: inviting the reader in. The second idea is narrative, sometimes straightforward and sometimes up to the viewer to discern. My books combine structure and narrative to produce a work of art.