: About Me

My name is Debra. The screen name "Audra Sonata" is taken from a science fiction story I've been writing off and on for the better part of a year now. I'm a 38 year old wife and proud mother of five and grandmother of two. I've worked with severely physically and mentally challenged students for sixteen years, done live theater most of my life, raised foster children, and done a large amount of research in parenting, education and alternative medicine. I lost my vision almost three years ago to Multiple Sclerosis, so I no longer work in education the way I did before. Now I write online to teach what I can. I write children's stories, the odd science fiction story, and several short blogs and articles on health, home and family. I'm pretty happy with my life and myself now, though I admit I occasionally miss my life before MS became a part of it.

I enjoy reading and researching a wide variety of topics, always in the hope of further benefiting my home and family. I study everything from homeopathy to homeschooling. I read everything on my laptop with the help of my JAWS screen reader, a ridiculously expensive program my husband purchased for me. He broke the bank to keep this world accessible to me. I appreciate what he did, but admit I still miss actual books. I miss the heft of the volume in my hand and the turning of the pages. However, I am totally inept at Braille even now, so this is my best option. All things considered, it's definitely better than no option at all.

Although blind, I still paint, sing, dance, act, write scripts and even direct at our local theater. I guess that might be a little unusual all things considered. Other than that, things about me are all very "usual". I cook, clean house, do laundry, help my kids with their homework, read and research and write as often as I'm able. I spend as much time as I can with my family.

My mom's my hero, as cliche as that sounds. She taught me that the only real failure in life is the failure to try. She taught me not to quit. If it hadn't been for her example, i might have folded when I lost my sight. She wouldn't have allowed that, though. She never gave up on any of us, and she never let us give up on ourselves. To this day, she keeps me strong. One day, I may even be as strong as she is. I certainly hope so.

My passion is ...

My passion is my children.

I know too much about ...

Josh Groban.

My parents always told me ...

"Quitting is not an option. Believe in yourself and never quit."

My childhood ambition ...

I was going to be a Tony award winning Broadway Star.

My favorite memory ...

My favorite memory is the day my husband proposed. It was beautiful and romantic. It was almost as perfect as he is.

Why I write ...

I write because I can't not write, to be honest. My mind seems so filled with so much silliness and seriousness, fact and fiction, tears and laughter and joy and anguish that if I didn't write I think I'd explode. I know how melodramatic that sounds, but hey, that's me, the ultimate drama queen. Still, if in the end something I wrote made someone think or feel, if it helped or healed in any way, it's worth it.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

I'm reading the newest clinical research on Oregano Oil right now. I'll let you know what I find out.

My first job ...

I was twelve years old and I dug ditches to lay water piping. It wasn't terrible except the man I was working for tried really hard not to pay me when I was done. Thank God for Daddy. He made stodd up for me and made sure I didn't get cheated after all.

My best moment ...

I'm not quite sure that moment has actually happened yet. I'll keep you posted.

My inspiration ...

My mother is my inspiration. She came up through some really hard times yet she never gives up and she never let anyone else give up either. She's an amazingly strong woman, and to this day she keeps me strong. She amazes me.

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