I fell in love with words as a little girl, listening to my mother read books and recite poetry before bed. That early love of storytelling led me into newspaper journalism, where I covered everything from food to books to community heroes to artists across California’s Central Valley.

Today, I’m an award-winning author of children’s books, Bible studies, devotionals, and essays, with work featured through DaySpring, Proverbs 31 Ministries, The Message Women’s Devotional Bible, and other outlets. I am represented by Dorena Williamson at Ami McConnell Literary Agency. Whether I’m writing for children or adults, I’m passionate about helping people discover hope, purpose, and God’s glory and goodness through stories.

My life has been shaped by a rich multicultural heritage and a deep belief that our differences are gifts. Raised in a multiracial family with Filipino, Italian, Polynesian, Chinese, African, and Armenian roots, I learned early on to build bridges across cultures. I grew up in the kitchen with my mama, grandmas and aunties. My love for story was nurtured there. Through spoken word, feature articles, creative essays and podcasts, I have been writing these stories ever since.

My passion for cross-cultural connection eventually led me and my late husband, Ericlee, to serve in Haiti through nonprofit work and social enterprise, where I started The Haitian Bead Project. After his Ericlee’s death from cancer in 2014, God faithfully carried our family through grief and redemption. Today, my husband Shawn and I are raising three resilient daughters and continuing to embrace the unexpected beauty of God’s story.