About Anne

I grew up in a musical family, performing as a singer and instrumentalist since age five. Left Indiana for NYC with a history degree and the dream of getting work as a singer while holding down various office jobs. One of those led to a position at the Dia Art Foundation in its early days. Music gave way to workaholism. Recovering from burnout, I developed a consulting business in the NYC art world. I catalogued collections of art and set up my clients’ contributions of art to museums. I wrote the legal documents for gifts of minimal and conceptual art because the lawyers didn’t know how. That led to NYU law school in my thirties. Writing for law school led to getting articles published in magazines. Songwriting got more important to me during long weekends and vacations.

A mentor convinced me to drop my consulting business and work in a Wall St law firm. I tolerated that for two years, for the experience, and to pay down the school loans. Then I resumed consulting, now also offering legal services to clients in the arts. I began recording my songs in studios, eventually releasing album projects. Workshopped songs with Bob Franke, Charlie Murphy, Hugh Prestwood, and Rosanne Cash.

The internet happened, and I managed editorial and production services for a client’s web-based arts and culture newsletter. Then I left NYC and moved to Central Virginia. After thirty years in the art world, I closed the business to focus on writing sentences and songs. Began coaching nonfiction writers. Trained as a creativity coach with Eric Maisel. Later earned a creativity coaching diploma from Noble Manhattan. Formed a writer group, a book group, joined song circles, sang in choruses and choirs.

Starting in 2012, I helped authors write, polish, and publish their nonfiction books. More recently, I pivoted to shorter-term creativity coaching for visual artists and musicians as well as writers.

Education includes a BA in History from Indiana University, coursework toward a BS in Music from Brooklyn College (NYC), and a JD from New York University School of Law. Studied with songwriting teachers. Trained with Eric Maisel in creativity coaching and course creation. Earned a diploma from Noble Manhattan’s creativity coaching program.

Prior Work Experience (in NYC) includes being a manager at the Dia Art Foundation, teaching stockbrokers how to use spreadsheet and database software, founding and operating an arts management consultancy for thirty years, training adult students in art collection management, and practicing intellectual property and arts law.

Before I left the Midwest for New York, I worked as a proofreader and copyeditor at two law publishing houses.

Community includes co-founding a writer group from 2011-2024, creating and leading Publishing Community Roundtable from 2014 to 2022, and a local book group. Meeting weekly with creativity coaching colleagues for mutual support. Working Group monthly sessions, based on Andrew Simonet’s model, with other creative artists. Participating in song circles with fellow Rosanne Cash songwriting alumni for over 20 years.

Recordings include instructional video, audiobook, podcast, radio essay, audio guide, and music media.

Instruction includes my course, 30 Days Toward Becoming Unstuck; art collection management at New York University; serving as a three-time instructor at Barbara Grenoble’s Orff Certification program in music pedagogy at the University of Denver; private music instruction.