Enterprise Reporter, Hope and Humanity

As an enterprise writer, I seek stories about people in the shadows. Some put a face on news events and current issues. Others shine a light on people’s private struggles and triumphs. Many are narratives, focusing on helpers and hope. I grew up in Washington, D.C. during the Watergate era and decided I wanted to be a journalist when I was six years old. I have worked at newspapers across the East Coast and have written for the Times for more than 20 years. In 2009, I won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing for a story about a feral child. I teach around the world and host WriteLane, a podcast about non-fiction storytelling. In 2023, the University of Chicago Press published an annotated anthology of my Times stories: “The Girl in the Window” and Other True Tales. I’m married to my college crush, a drummer, and we raised our two sons in the tiny waterfront town of Gulfport. When I’m not talking to strangers, I enjoy camping at music festivals, going to the beach at sunset and playing with our two energetic puppies. I’d love to hear your story, or someone’s you think I should share.