About The Author

Paula entered the world on New Year's Day, 1961, at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California—the eldest daughter in a large, blended military family. Her early childhood unfolded in a whirlwind of relocations, as she and her siblings were moved from one base to another, eventually landing in Germany.

At just eleven years old, while living overseas, Paula experienced a life-altering loss: her mother passed away suddenly under circumstances that remain unknown. In the wake of this tragedy, Paula was brought back to the United States, settling in Knox County, Ohio, with her siblings.

But stability proved elusive. One afternoon, as Paula and her sisters stepped off the school bus, they were met by three separate caseworkers—each assigned to escort the children to different foster homes. It was a moment that fractured what remained of their childhood unity, and marked the beginning of a new, uncertain chapter.

Paula's journey through the foster care system was a whirlwind of instability and heartache. Imagine being uprooted seven times in just one year, each move left a fresh wound on her young heart. Despite her relentless efforts to find solace and reconnect with her siblings, her path was marred by constant upheaval. In 1986, she began pouring her soul into her memoir, a raw and deeply personal account of these tumultuous years. With unflinching honesty and vulnerability, she lays bare how the words and actions of caregivers can either lift a child to the heavens or plunge them into the depths of despair. Her memoir is not just a story; it is a beacon of hope and resilience for those who feel lost and forgotten. It is a testament to overcoming adversity without letting it define you. Paula's message is clear: it is not the fall that define us, but the strength and courage to rise again.

With a fierce commitment to advocacy, Paula has built a career centered on transforming foster care. She serves as a consultant, keynote speaker, youth motivational speaker, and trainer, presenting at conferences, trainings, and celebratory gatherings. Her expertise reaches across foster care training centers, treatment facilities, detention centers, youth prisons, groups of foster parents, churches, and academic institutions. Her book is required reading in many high schools and colleges, and she frequently speaks at schools including Mount Vernon Nazarene University, always ensuring her memoir is accessible to attendees.

Paula has delivered keynote addresses and trainings throughout Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, and Pennsylvania. She has authored and developed three distinct foster care training classes drawn from her personal experiences, and she finds deep joy in mentoring foster youth within their own environments. Through her nonprofit, Paradise in the Sky Equine Ranch, she creates space for healing, growth, and connection.

In addition to all of the above, she co-founded and is Vice-President of "Paradise in the Sky – Youth Motivational Services," This is a 501c3 Non-Profit facility that provides an outdoor opportunity for youth of all diversities and challenges, endeavors to unlock their potential, and promotes teaching leadership skills with a focus on ethical decision-making. This outside facility provides affordable educational and recreational activities in a safe, clean, and inviting environment. The Mission Statement is, "We provide outdoor activities to empower and motivate challenged youth and families as well as group events by promoting respect for all cultural diversity through outdoor recreational and educational opportunities to unlock each participant's potential for future success." Presently, Paula enjoys life with her husband, Richard Stephens, her two grown children, as well as three stepsons and three grandchildren.

Her memoir, Ghost of a Phantom, has been screen written. Paula's current hobby is photography. She is a Motocross Photographer as her husband Richard Stephens is a Motocross Champion racing three of the infamous Vintage Rokons.