Look and Listen

Biography

I am the owner of Chrysalis Press, a publishing company dedicated to producing imaginative literature for children, teens, and young adults. I am also an author and illustrator, and have combined my talents for Chrysalis Press's latest release, Laura and the Leprechauns. Creative Writing and the arts have been long-time passions for me ever since early childhood. Chrysalis Press is based in Newport Beach, California. I love spending time with family and friends, and can usually be found writing, drawing, reading, painting, or spending time with children. I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, the National Association of Women Writers, the Publishers Marketing Association, the Small Publishers Association Network, the Small Publishers and Writers Network, and the Screen Actors Guild. I also enjoy volunteering at the Orange County Food Bank, an organization that provides meals for the homeless, the elderly, and those in need.

Inspiration

My inspiration for Laura and the Leprechauns came from my little cousin Laura who lives in Bavaria. She was curious about leprechauns and their activities after visiting me in California where the rest of our family celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, for which we have a big celebration. She was about five at the time and fell in love with the holiday—full of giggles and in delighted awe of all the surprises we had set up for her. That led me to write a story about and for her; it just took on a larger scope than I had imagined. What was going to be a simple stapled book became a hardback book with glitter printed in Hong Kong. The rest is history, as they say.