MY JOURNEY
Favorite Quote: "A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit." - Richard Bach, author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
When I was in 7th grade, an English teacher gave us an assignment to create our own island, make up names of lakes, mountains, cities, people it with interesting characters and write a story. I had so much fun using my imagination, I have been writing ever since.
I was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but attended elementary school in Singapore, and high school in Hong Kong, where we moved to be closer to my Mom's family. In 1979, I came to the U.S. for college and graduated from Dominican University in San Rafael, California, with a B.A. in English Literature with a Writing Emphasis, and a M.S. in Counseling Psychology.
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Five years old, at our apartment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Photo credit: Adler Boncher Creative
Represented by: Ana Crespo, East West Literary
Two years old, and already loving books!
Feeding monkeys at the Kuala Lumpur zoo. I'm on the left next to my Mom.
Most of my career has been in counseling or social work. I worked with Mendocino County Child Protective Services, and with kids in residential treatment centers, and group homes. It was here, reading and telling stories to kids who were away from their families, that I discovered the power of stories to soothe, comfort and inspire children. I decided I wanted to write books for kids. Currently, I have a part-time day job with the Mendocino County Office of Education as a grant manager and Mental Health Awareness coordinator and instructor.
I enjoy writing in different genres and, in addition to children's books, have written magazine articles (both for kids and adults), short plays, play and book reviews, and am currently working on two middle grade novels as well as more picture book projects.
With Mom and Dad in KL. Doesn't my Mom look Audrey Hepburn-esque?
BOOKS
LUNAR NEW YEAR
Quarto Books: Words & Pictures
Nov. 7, 2023
LUNAR NEW YEAR
Jump Publishing: Pogo Books
Aug. 1, 2023
LUNA'S YUM YUM DIM SUM
Charlesbridge Publishing
Dec. 22, 2020
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
Disney/Pixar
Feb. 8, 2022
LIGHTYEAR
Little Golden Book
Random House
May 3, 2022
MULAN'S LUNAR NEW YEAR
Disney Press
Oct. 30, 2018
THE ROCK MAIDEN
Wisdom Tales Press
March 1, 2017
GOLDY LUCK AND THE THREE PANDAS
Charlesbridge Publishing
Jan. 7, 2014
SACAJAWEA OF
THE SHOSHONE
Goosebottom Books
Oct. 6, 2012
CIXI, THE DRAGON EMPRESS
Goosebottom Books
Oct. 3, 2011
OTTO'S RAINY DAY
Charlesbridge Publishing
July 1, 2000
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