Terri has lived in Upper Michigan for nearly 20 years and has no desire to live anywhere else. Terri is currently a regular contributor to U.P. Magazine (Porcupine Press) where she finds an outlet for her humorous writing. Additionally, her feature articles and short stories have been published in magazines and literary journals. Terri has a published middle-grade children's novel, A Family Trait, with a second book she hopes to publish soon. Terri served as editor and layout for a literary newsletter blog affiliated with the Finnish North America Literary Association. Terri worked in higher education from 2005 to 2016 in various roles including administrative assistance, classroom instruction, tutoring and grant writing.

She earned a master's degree in English from Northern Michigan University in 2013.