“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” ― Mary Oliver

I was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1979 and grew up in Retreat, a small farming community along the Mississippi River. My childhood followed the rhythms of the land, with days spent fishing, camping, building snow forts, riding horses, and working in tobacco fields.

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As a first-generation college student, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Human Ecology and went on to work in public education in Madison for nearly two decades. In between, I spent time on the Mississippi Gulf Coast supporting post–Hurricane Katrina recovery.

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The COVID-19 pandemic and broader upheaval in the United States sparked a period of reflection that eventually led me to return to the home of my ancestors.

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I now live in a small village on the west coast of Norway, where I work remotely, write, and explore. My days are shaped by the seasons, the sea, and a growing sense of belonging that continues to unfold in this new chapter of life.​

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Velkommen til Marla Goes North.​