Biography

Sister-in-law of author Dave Barry.

She was raised in Cold Spring Harbor, New York. She studied guitar lesson at 14 years old. She graduated from Antioch College with a Bachelor's Degree and earned a Master's Degree from Goddard College in Vermont. She moved to Los Angeles, California in 1974 with her then boyfriend, Jim Hodder, the original drummer for the rock group, Steely Dan. After teaching drama at a progressive preschool, she worked on birth control issues for the Population Institute and helped it's move to San Francisco, California.

She played the guitar and sang with the literary musical band, "Rock Bottom Remainders," since 1992 with Stephen King, Amy Tan, Scott Turow, and Dave Barry to raise money for charity. The band also included Roy Blount Jr., Mitch Albom, Barbara Kingsolver, and Roger McGuinn.

She was a country rock musician. She started Goldmark Media Escort to usher authors from place to place. They provided more than 500 author tours a year. She also had her own record company, "Doon't Quit Your Day Job.".

At her death, she was surrounded by authors such as Amy Tan, Dave Barry, and Maya Angelou. Singer Judy Collins called and to sing "Amazing Grace" to her. Her last word was "Rosebud" as she died.