I've been collecting children's literature and writing for children since high school, but only began pursuing publication in 2012 when my youngest was two years old. Born in and addicted to the San Francisco Bay Area, I feel lucky to live in the East Bay, where my husband has built me a beautiful writing studio with a door. In 2013, I discovered StoryStorm (previously PiBoIdMo), which led to Julie Hedlund's 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge and a flurry of picture book manuscripts. So thrilled to have just completed my first novel (middle grade historical fiction in verse) that I'm moving straight on to the next one!Prior to having children, I worked as a bilingual elementary school teacher for ten years; currently I'm a Teacher Consultant for the Bay Area Writing Project and back in the classroom as a music teacher. When not chasing after my own children or writing, I'm most likely going for an early morning walk, volunteering to teach Writers' Workshop in my children's classrooms, or practicing kung fu on the wooden dummy in my backyard.