She regularly appears at horror- and science fiction-themed conventions such as Archon, Dragoncon, MidSouthCon and Hypericon.
In 2009, her novella titled "The Cold Ones" (Sam's Dot Publishing) sold out its first print run in 48 hours and launched the Blackfire series of novels and short stories.
In 2010, she was one of two initial recipients of the Terry Harper Memorial Fellowship from the national Society of Professional Journalists.
She continues to work as a freelance journalist for multiple regional and national publications, including the St. Louis Labor Tribune and McClatchy.
She is married to author Jim Gillentine and has one son, Ian Smith, from a previous marriage.