Born in New York, NY, I have always been a creative. In my suburban living room, I spent hours recreating the art techniques I learned in school, and later dabbled in trying to become the next Bob Ross. Why not illustrate, you ask? Well, it was the words that held my heart.

 

In my youth, I belted out those words, singing on stage whenever someone let me. Was I any good? You'll have to track down the video of my high school talent show to find out.

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Music has always fed my soul. While studying English Language and Literature at the University of Michigan, after a short stint as a band manager, I followed a rock band around the country, vibing with a community of others who came alive when live music washed over us.

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After graduation, I tiptoed through the business side of music, eventually working at a music magazine. Ultimately, though, I decided to pursue education, receiving a dual master's degree in Literacy and Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education in NYC. Being an elementary reading teacher was surely the perfect job for someone who loves children's literature, right?

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But the stories within me--the music from my heart--were clambering to be shared. So, home-bound in the midst of a pandemic, I dove in headfirst as a professional children's book writer: my true calling.

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You see, I have always written picture books. In an attic somewhere there are dozens of pages of stories, scrawled on my bedroom floor on rainy afternoons. In college, I created homemade velvet-bound picture books for my loved ones. And when I needed just the right books for my own children to help them process their experiences, I wrote them myself, and my kids colored them in.

 

Now, I am on a never-ending journey to improve my craft and, as in my younger days, to connect with a community of others like me. And what I discover day in and day out is this: It's all about the journey. I flourished as a 2023 PB Rising Stars mentee, and I am THRILLED to have been chosen as a recipient for a 12x12 Picture Book Challenge 2024 Silver Diversity Scholarship, so I can continue to learn, grow and connect with this amazing collective of creators. I am also an active member of SCBWI, a graduate of Children’s Book Academy, a moderator for two critique groups, and a proofreader for my local LI SCBWI chapter newsletter.

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To date, I have written twenty-two picture books (including a ten-book toddler series). I hope to spread the spirit of joy, empathy and belonging to readers everywhere, and to empower children to follow their own tune.

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Like my protagonist King Zavier, I believe in the power of music to connect people. In fact, if it wasn't for music, I wouldn't have met my husband... But that's a story for another day.