Hi there!
My mom likes to remind me that once I realized I could take books with me out into public spaces, there was seldom a time that I’d be found without at least one book in my purse — or more likely, in my hands being devoured in rapt fascination.
Because of this, I grew up within worlds where magic was real, cats could form social hierarchies out in the wild, and kids had the opportunity to change the world for the better. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have this sense of hope and possibility instilled into the core of who I am, even today.
Of course, all that reading didn’t cut into my time spent imagining up my own worlds and playing in them with some of my closest friends growing up. The Laskar Series was borne out of the backyard of my best friend and filled with all the fantasy, angst, and wonder that two preteens could muster with only bamboo shoots, a dried up creek, and a spark of creativity to avail us.
Writing took on a life of its own inside of me. Telling stories became crucial to my every day life. When I couldn’t control the activities of the world around me, I could turn to my own worlds and say, “Things will get better.” I found that I could put my characters up against the toughest odds and they could overcome anything while still holding on to what made them themselves. The more I thought about how my characters could do that, the more I realized anyone could. We can face the hardest circumstances and still remain true to ourselves — maybe even become more ourselves. The people who believe this about themselves will see that reflected in my books.
I’m so excited to start this journey down the path to authorship. I hope you’ll follow along.
