She was raised in Wisconsin.She graduated from the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, from Kansas State University with a master's degree, and from the University of Utah with a Ph.D.

She taught at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She teaches at Texas State University—San Marcos.

Her work has appeared in Prairie Schooner,, Callaloo., and numerous other magazines and journals.She lives in Austin, Texas.

Criticism

• "Book Reviews:MotherKind by Jayne Anne Phillips", The Aurtin Chronicle, DEBRA MONROE, : MAY 12, 2000