About Me
Fun Facts
- I am a first-generation Chinese American immigrant. I was born in Hong Kong and have lived in Guangzhou, San Francisco, New York City, London, and the Bay Area.
- A lifelong choir geek, I now sing with a community choir known for sparking spontaneous dance parties.
- I am a proud mom of two fort-building, joke-cracking kids. My son and daughter are my first readers and toughest editors. My husband is my number one fan.
- My perfect day would start with a hike in the redwoods, a picnic lunch by the ocean, an afternoon curled up with a book, and an evening concert at Berkeley’s Greek Theater.
Why I Write
As a child, stories gave me a way to make sense of the world and discover my place in it. So many of my childhood memories consisted of long afternoons curled up in a book or trips to the local library in search of my latest read. My earliest tales took shape in my diary entries, where I recounted the joys and challenges of growing up in Guangzhou, China, and San Francisco, California.
In my twenties, my love of the written word continued. At Barnard College, I penned articles for the campus publication, Barnard Bulletin. I also crafted pieces for the events section of the East Bay Express, an alternative weekly based in the Bay Area, California. To learn more about the business aspect of publishing, I volunteered with Hyphen, a magazine focused on amplifying the voices of Asian Americans in the arts, politics, and culture.
But over time, writing took a back seat to other chapters of my life. I built a career first in the nonprofit sector for ten years, then transitioned into another decade of service as a School Counselor. Along the way, I married my lovely husband and became a mother to two silly, spunky children.
It was through reading to my children that my love of literature—especially children’s stories—was rekindled. Watching them light up, laugh, or reflect as they listened reminded me of the power of stories to inspire and delight. I realized then that I, too, had stories inside me waiting to be told. Stories rooted in culture, community, and empathy that I longed to share with others. For my birthday in April 2021, I gifted myself a picture book workshop with Lisa Lerner—and I’ve been hooked ever since, taking more classes, joining SCBWI and critique groups, and entering every writing contest I could find.
I discovered that I loved writing, especially for children. I love the magic that emerges when words are paired together to create unforgettable characters that tug at your heartstrings. Through my diverse stories, I hope that children are given the same gift that stories once gave me: a way to see themselves, understand others, and feel at home in the world.
I am represented by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Bradford Literary Agency