Welcome to my zone!
I’m an emoji-loving, tea drinking, second generation immigrant bursting at the seams with creative ideas. I believe to the bottom of my size 9's that the creation impulse compelling me to make artwork and tell stories is the same spirit who attends the births of babies, the raising of children, the building of communities and every other creative endeavor. Creating artwork is my way of contributing, connecting and making sense of this crazy, beautiful world.
I have been drawing families for years as a caricature artist on the beaches of Santa Cruz, California. It's hard to say what was more wonderful about that work- sharing my art with people from around the world or becoming a wicked fast ink slinger. Both experiences led me to the world of children's literature. I love creating characters that brim with good humor and make simple mistakes. My favorite worlds straddle the real and the fantastical. I want to help my readers escape for a slice of time before returning to their own reality, ready to face the struggle and embrace the joy that come their way.
On a Sunday you can find me loafing around with my lovely husband and 3 beautiful children. On a good day I’ll be singing songs with the young ‘uns and admiring how the tulips next to my bed look in the afternoon sun. On a bad day I’ll be mumbling under my breath about how much friggin' laundry there is to do and wondering if it's reasonable to hit the hay before sun down.
It’s all me.
I try really hard.
I know you do too.
Let’s just goof off, have some fun and maybe- but not definitely- learn something along the way
Xoxo
Fun Facts
Favorite kid's books: Rain by Peter Spier, El Viento en los Sauces illustrated by Michel Plessix, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, The Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty & David Roberts, Matias Dibuja el Sol por Rocio Martinez
Kids' Lit careers I admire: LeUyen Pham, Kwame Alexander, Dan Santat
Favorite big kid books: Shogun by James Clavell, anything by Willa Cather, The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, Roots by Alex Haley, Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor, The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk
Favorite food: Hamburgers & milkshakes!
Fun fact: dual citizen USA & Great Britain.
Almost fluent in Spanish.
Favorite landscape: English bucolic (as long as I have my brolly!)
Animals in my neighborhood: The Crow Kingdom makes court outside my bedroom window; a chorale of coyotes; 2 blue herons, innumerable ducks, seagulls, sand pipers and black phoebes as well as many other winged beasts; barking sea lions; and finally, human beans of every kind- tall, short, wide, skinny, cream/ cinnamon/ coffee-colored, laughing, shouting, crying, fighting, friendly, grumpy, biking, walking, driving, running, ambling and, very rarely, bag piping.
Dearest wish: For humanity to begin believing in ourselves and to embark on a collective endeavor of problem solving, hope and peace.