Welcome to 2026, Here Is What Is Going On

To the people who have known me for years—and to those who have absolutely no idea who I am—hi. Welcome. I’m really glad you’re here, and I hope you’re having a good day wherever you’re reading this from.

I want to share a little about who I am, what I’ve been working toward, and what has quietly been taking shape over the last several years.

I’ve been writing. A lot.

Some of it has been absolute nonsense—half-formed thoughts scribbled into notebooks I inevitably lose track of, lines written in the margins of lesson plans, or ideas typed into my phone at 3AM. But alongside the mess, something else has been happening. Stories that have lived in my head for years have slowly found their way onto the page. And not just onto the page, but into manuscripts.

Those manuscripts have been edited, rewritten, abandoned, rediscovered, and edited again. They’ve been cut apart, stitched back together, and reshaped more times than I can count. Some have been thrown away entirely. Others were pulled back out of the metaphorical trash bin (also a literal trash bin) because something in them still mattered. A handful of those stories have now “graduated”. They are polished enough to be shared through the querying process, with the hope that one day they might land on a publisher’s desk and eventually into the hands of a reader.

Becoming an author has been both a dream and a serious goal of mine for as long as I can remember. I can trace that dream back to the moment I read Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco as a child. That book didn’t just teach me about reading. It taught me about perseverance, kindness, and the quiet power of being understood. Ever since I learned to read, I’ve been deeply moved by what books can do: how they can hold a mirror up to our experiences, offer language for feelings we don’t yet have words for, and make us feel less alone.

That love of literacy eventually led me into the classroom. As an educator and special education advocate, I spent years working with children whose stories were often misunderstood or overlooked. I saw firsthand how books could open doors—for regulation, for imagination, for healing, and for connection. I also learned that stories don’t just entertain; they teach children how to name their emotions, navigate relationships, and build empathy for others.

Alongside my writing, I’ve developed a deep interest in social-emotional learning, trauma-informed education, and the science of how children learn and regulate. Part of what I’ll be sharing here is research and reflection around empathy, emotional development, and educational practices that support the whole child. Whether it’s insights from the classroom, frameworks that center connection and safety, or ways literature can be used as a tool for emotional growth, this space will bridge storytelling with evidence-based approaches to learning and care.

At the same time, I was still writing—usually late at night, early in the morning, or in the small quiet spaces between responsibilities. Writing alongside teaching taught me a lot about patience, persistence, and the importance of revision, not just on the page, but in life.

In 2025, I took a step that made this dream feel more real: I became a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Through SCBWI, I found community. I met fellow writers, critique partners, editors, and agents who challenged me to think more deeply about craft while also reminding me that this path is rarely linear. The support, feedback, and generosity I’ve encountered there have shaped both my writing and my confidence in ways I didn’t expect.

This space. This account. This blog exists to share that ongoing journey. I’ll share thoughts on literacy, social-emotional learning, empathy, and education, alongside the books and creators who continue to inspire me. And I’ll celebrate the authors and illustrators who bring stories to life—because no book exists in isolation, and none of us do either.

If you’re a writer, a reader, an educator, or someone who simply loves stories, I hope you’ll find something here that resonates. And if you’re just passing through, thank you for stopping by. You’re always welcome to stay awhile.