About Me

Hello! Thanks for visiting.

I’m Valerie, aka Val, aka Vovo. I’ve been passionate about writing since kindergarten, when my first short story — written and illustrated in marker — was graced with an “I’m Proud of You!” dinosaur stamp. I earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in creative writing from SUNY Brockport and have 16 years of professional writing, editing, and marketing experience, specializing in higher education, performing arts, medical informatics, and book manuscripts.

My writing interests are unabashedly wide. Through my angsty youth and into college, I tended toward short fiction and poetry, developing somewhat of an obsession in my undergrad years for erasure poetry. I also have a deep fondness for YA and children’s literature, especially the brilliance of Dr. Seuss. I’d love to write a scholarly essay about his work at some point. By the time I wrote my master’s thesis, my focus had shifted to a narrative nonfiction project that later became my first book, published in April 2022. I have a couple more nonfiction projects in development in my head, eager to get on the page soon. And I know poetry and fiction will come back to visit me from time to time.

In addition to my own creative pursuits, I’m the marketing director for the Rochester Gay Men’s Chorus and a freelance writer and editor for VisualDx, Three Fates Editing, SUNY Geneseo, the Mount Hope World Singers, and various other clients.

Want help with your words? Let’s chat! ⬇️

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