About

For me, fantasy is the perfect place to explore meaning through imagination. While fantasy provides momentary escape and release from everyday life, it also gives room to explore life in a new context. The strangeness of fantasy is a lense through which we can process and explore the real world.

There were too many to count! But I'll try and narrow it down for you:

• Inkheart by Cornelia Funk: This was the first book that inspired me to start writing. It was my favorite audiobook, and my paper copy still has a special place on my shelf.

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: I first read this in middle school, and I've read it many times since. It was the first time a story's theme really hit home for me. It truly moved me as a young reader.

• The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: Yes, I read those fat books as a child. I fell in love with the concept of small people accomplishing great feats, and it really fueled my passion for fantasy.

• The False Prince by Jennifer A Nielsen: This book triggered my decision to become an author. I fell in love with Nielsen's writing, and I read all of her books.

And some others: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, Jackaroo by Cynthia Voigt, The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale, and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyl by AVI

I was fascinated by books growing up, and I read a lot. I was particularly drawn to illustrated novels and picture books. My parents encouraged my fascination and pushed me to develop my creative skills. Because of this, I picked up art and writing at a fairly young age. As I grew older and wrote my own stories, it only felt natural that I should illustrate them too.

I started drawing when I was old enough to hold a crayon, and I made up stories about the things I drew. In high school, I finished my first novel, complete with pencil illustrations. The story was almost 200 pages, featuring a young princess and her fire-bending friend. Yes, I still have it. No, I won't let you read it.

After high school, I began to take my work seriously. I majored in English to expand my writing skills and minored in art "just for fun". During my sophmore year of college, I won a first-place prize for one of my short stories. I continued to write books. By my senior year, I landed my first book commission as an illustrator and graduated with over twenty art credits. I've been writing and drawing ever since.

Writing and drawing were always my favorite things to do as a kid, but since I've made those my career, I've picked up new hobbies to replace them. I love hiking, gardening, reading, sewing costumes, and making handmade stationery.

• I'm 4'11" and proud of it.

• My favorite season is fall, because I love the rain.

• My favorite colors are yellow, pink, blue, and burgundy.

• My favorite food is homemade whole-wheat bread with fresh strawberry freezer jam.

• My favorite classic novels are The Outsiders, A Tale of Two Cities, and Far From the Madding Crowd.

• My current favorite YA books are Shielded, Year of the Reaper, A Face Like Glass, and The False Prince.

• My favorite picture books are Nobody Likes a Goblin and The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.

• My favorite movies are Belle (2013), How to Train Your Dragon (2010), The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001), and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018).

Anything else you want to know? Submit a question here.