Tapestry of Voices Team

Traci Huahn

Traci Huahn writes both fiction and nonfiction stories, many rooted in Asian American culture, history, and identity. Her debut picture book Mamie Tape Fights to go to School will be published by Crown BFYR in 2024. Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Traci is the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Though she loves traveling far and near, most days you'll find her writing at home alongside her husband, two kids, a pup who loves raw Brussels sprouts, and a Betta fish named Walter. Traci is a co-coordinator of the SCBWI SF North/East Bay diversity initiative Tapestry of Voices. www.tracihuahn.com

Michelle Quraishi

Raised by a Pakistani father and American mother in the small town of Half Moon Bay, California, L. Michelle Quraishi grew up searching for identity, belonging, and connection in books. Her experiences with straddling multiple cultures drive her commitment to exploring cultural edges and understanding. An SCBWI member since 2013, she’s written numerous picture books and is currently working on a middle-grade novel in verse. She now lives with her husband, two children and mother in Walnut Creek, California Learn more at www.lmquraishi.com.

Natasha Tripplett

Natasha, a Jewish-Jamaican American author, lives in Northern California where she writes from a treehouse perched in a sycamore tree. As a baby, Natasha was adopted into a Dutch, Christian family. Growing up on Vancouver Island in Canada, Natasha was acutely aware that she was different from her family; this did not keep her from integrating all the pieces of her identity. Natasha’s multicultural background has allowed her to flow seamlessly through different cultures while bridging gaps that typically divide people. Natasha has been published in various online magazines. Natasha is represented by Caryn Wiseman of Andrea Brown Literary Agency and has forthcoming picture books with HarperCollins, Chronicle and WaterBrook. Natasha bubbles with excitement over antiques, chocolate, coffee on the front porch, and cozy movie nights in front of the fireplace with her husband and four children.

Nadine Tavorkian

Nadine Takvorian is a first-generation Armenian-American author and illustrator of children’s books and graphic novels. From within the Armenian diaspora, Nadine’s family is *Bolsahye* — from Istanbul, Turkey.

She is passionate about exploring identity and history, and battling cultural erasure. She also nourishes a soft spot for fantasy and alternate worlds. Nadine lives with her husband and two children in the Bay Area where they dig holes in their garden and dream of diving into waves at sea.

Nadine is currently working on her debut YA graphic novel ARMAVENI with Levine Querido, Spring 2025. 

Vanitha Sankaran

Vanitha Sankaran is both a medical communications director working in rare diseases and a novelist. Her debut novel, Watermark, was a work of adult historical fiction; she has since written a YA contemporary fantasy and is working on a YA cross between science fiction and the history of slavery. She was a co-founding editor of the literary journal flashquake for its 10-year run and has served multiple times as the Conference and Program Chair for the Historical Novel Society of North America’s Biannual Conference. She currently lives with her husband and greyhounds in Moss Beach, California. Learn more at www.vanithasankaran.com/.

Meera Sriram

Meera Sriram draws from her life straddling the East and West to tell stories for children. She is an award-winning author of several picture books including A GIFT FOR AMMA and THE SPICE BOX. Her work has been selected Best Book of the Year by SLJ, APALA and Bank Street College, included in state reading lists, and has received starred trade reviews. Meera lives with her family in Berkeley, California. For more information, please visit:  http://www.meerasriram.com