about me

I’m a big believer in family dance parties, chocolate covered cinnamon bears for breakfast, making birthdays extra special, picture books as an art form, and everyday miracles. And I love writing books for kids!

I grew up in Southern California, went to college in Idaho, and am raising my family in Utah—so you can’t ask me to choose between the ocean or mountains. That would be like choosing my favorite of four daughters. Or between mint chocolate chip ice cream and fresh berries with cream cheese pie. Or The Giver and The Book Thief. Or Christian Bale’s Batman and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. Just can’t be done.

I graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English and an emphasis in creative writing, and I’m passionate about helping kids find joy in reading. I truly believe every person is a reader—they have only to find the right book!

I spent the next twenty years helping create award-winning language & literacy software for young learners around the world. I wrote and edited hundreds of fiction and nonfiction picture books for the Imagine Learning English and Joy School English programs, and it’s such an honor when a child tells me that they read and enjoyed any of them.

During those years I also married my adventure-seeking, crazy-talented artist husband, we had four wildly talented daughters, and we started a couple businesses together. And I co-authored my first traditionally published picture book, OVER IN THE WOODLAND, with my twin sister.

Today I write the picture books and middle grade novels of my heart while teaching teenagers to drive, practicing times tables with my elementary kids, chauffeuring girls to gymnastics, attempting to train our two mini schnauzers, and running an ocularistry practice with my husband. And I’m forever embarrassing my kids by talking to every stranger and asking them a million questions. Because everyone’s story is worth hearing!

You’ll also find me watching Jane Austen movies, reading (always!), hiking around our local Utah mountains, or traveling to see family near the ocean . . . OR chatting with the stranger/new best friend I met at a writing conference or in the return line at Target.

If you ask me to choose between reading a good book or going on an adventure, I’ll bring the book with me wherever we’re headed.

Thanks for stopping by! I’m so glad you’re here.