Candy, the youngest of six siblings, was born into a family that would later face the challenges of parental divorce when she was merely three years of age. This pivotal event in her early life would have a profound impact on her subsequent experiences and shape her perspective on the world.
As a means of coping with the financial strain that accompanied her parents' separation, Candy's father joined The Mighty Bluegrass Shows, a traveling carnival that would become a constant presence in their lives for nearly nine months out of the year. The allure of the open road and the thrill of the unknown must have been a source of fascination for the young Candy, as she watched her father and the carnival move from place to place, bringing joy and excitement to countless people along the way.
However, life was not without its challenges, and Candy's mother, determined to provide a more stable environment for her children, made the difficult decision to leave the state of Indiana and embark on a journey that would take her and her five youngest children from one state to another, week in and week out. This nomadic lifestyle would undoubtedly have its share of ups and downs, but it would also offer Candy a unique perspective on the world, one that would be shaped by her experiences on the road and her relationships with the people she encountered along the way.
Between the years of 1979 and 1980, a full 12-month period, Candy and her siblings embarked on an unconventional educational hiatus, a peculiar phenomenon known as "carnies."
Candy's early years were marked by a nomadic existence, with her family relocating to multiple states, including the Hoosier State of Indiana, the Lone Star State of Texas, the Sunshine State of Florida, the Yellowhammer State of Alabama, and the Pelican State of Louisiana, with each move necessitating a change in educational institutions, causing her to attend multiple schools per year and grapple with the challenges of finding stability in her formative years.
It wasn't until she met her future spouse, Mark, and ultimately exchanged vows with him in the year 1988 that she was able to establish a sense of permanence in her life, providing a foundation of stability and security that had eluded her during her childhood.
Candy's innate affinity for writing was first manifested during her formative years, as she delighted in composing elaborate, handwritten missives to her extended family members and crafting intricate poems and book reports that showcased her burgeoning literary skills. Despite her early inclinations towards creative expression, the notion of becoming a published author and screenwriter never seriously entered her mind, as her focus lay elsewhere. It wasn't until her youngest son, a victim of relentless bullying at school, suffered the torment of being mercilessly tormented by his peers for a period of seven long, arduous years that Candy felt an overwhelming sense of urgency and compelled her to put pen to paper, ultimately giving rise to the creation of her inaugural literary endeavor, "Please Don't Do That: Bullies in School Are Just Not Cool!", a poignant and powerful testament to the enduring impact of her son's experiences.
The publication of a literary work in the year 2006 served as the catalyst for the sharing of a deeply personal and emotionally charged account of the daily struggles faced by the author's son at the hands of bullies. This poignant and thought-provoking narrative not only shed light on the devastating impact of bullying on the young victim, but also sparked a passion within the author to continue writing about this important and timely topic.
In the years that followed, Candy went on to author a series of books known as the Cheyenne series, which further solidified her reputation as a writer who is not afraid to tackle the tough issues. As she continued to hone her craft, she eventually transitioned to writing novels, a genre that would come to showcase her remarkable storytelling ability.
Today, Candy's impressive literary output includes a total of four books written specifically for children, seven novels that have captured the hearts of readers of all ages, an inspirational book that celebrates the blessings that can be found in life, and a memoir that offers a candid and unflinching look at her own tumultuous childhood.
Candy has had a prolific career, penning an impressive 17 feature-length films, in addition to a plethora of short films, with a total of 10 to her name. Among these, she has successfully sold three of her short films, a testament to her talent and dedication.
In 2011, Candy embarked on a significant journey, traveling to the sun-kissed state of California with her husband and their young son, Daniel. This trip was particularly noteworthy, as it afforded her the opportunity to be on set during the production of one of her short films, "The Santa Monica 128". This experience was a dream come true for Candy, allowing her to make a memorable cameo appearance and engage with the talented actor Devon Gearhart.
Candy's remarkable experience in the film industry served as a catalyst for her ambition to establish a film production company, which she successfully founded in September 2011 under the name Dreams Come True Films, LLC. Since then, she has been prolific in producing a diverse range of films, including the critically acclaimed "In a Cage", the suspenseful "Vanished", the emotionally charged "Cries Unheard", the heartwarming "My Mother's Replacement", the uplifting "The Promise", the inspiring "A Second Chance", and the thought-provoking "The Text". In 2018, her hard work and dedication to her craft were formally recognized when "Vanished" was named Best Thriller, "The Promise" was awarded Best Comedy on two separate occasions, and "A Second Chance" received the prestigious title of Best Christian Film.
