Raised in Jackson, Mississippi

Had first play produced while still a college sophomore, the one-act "Am I Blue"

Moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career

Began writing "Crimes of the Heart"; first produced at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1979

Wrote TV pilot for "Morgan's Daughter"

Feature acting debut, cameo as a bible pusher, "Swing Shift"

Co-wrote first screenplay with David Byrne and Stephen Tobolowsky, "True Stories"

Solo screenwriting debut, from her story of the same title, "Nobody's Fool"

Served as a writer for the Jonathan Demme PBS special, "A Family Tree"

Play "Abundance" premiered at South Coast Repertory before transferring to Off-Broadway

"Signatures" debuted at the New York Stage and Film Company

Wrote play "Impossible Marriage"; produced Off-Broadway with Holly Hunter in the lead

Debuted new play "Family Week"

Wrote draft of screenplay for the film version of the novel "The Shipping News"