Q: First tell us something about yourself.
I am a children’s book author passionate about storytelling, creativity, and literacy. Before writing for children, I co-founded and led an international creative agency, where I helped global brands tell meaningful stories. After selling my company, I returned to what first inspired me as a child, storytelling. I studied children’s literature at the University of Chicago Graham School and began writing picture books inspired by my two sons. Today, I create stories that nurture imagination, encourage kindness, and spark connection between children and the adults in their lives.
Q: How and when did your journey start as a writer?
Children’s books have always had a profound impact on me. As a child, I was captivated by their ability to transport me to new worlds while helping me understand big emotions. Writing found me early. I always felt I could express myself most clearly on paper, and I loved creating stories. That passion continued through my career, where I wrote as a national magazine columnist, published nonfiction books, and contributed to journals. After selling my marketing company, I returned fully to storytelling and studied children’s literature at the University of Chicago Graham School. Today, I feel incredibly grateful to share stories that reach homes, classrooms, and libraries.
Q: Tell us something more about your book series.
Do You See What I See? begins with a simple question that opens into a world of imagination. What starts as an ordinary moment quickly transforms as a child’s perspective takes over, inviting readers to see beyond what is in front of them. With each page turn, the imagination deepens and the grown-ups move from observing to participating. The story becomes a shared experience of wonder. At its heart, the book celebrates how children see the world and reminds us that their perspective can help us rediscover joy, creativity, and connection in everyday life.
Q: How did you create the magical system in your books and characters?
The magic of the book is built through its structure and pacing. The illustrator and I designed a rhythm where the right-hand pages show the grandparents’ view of an ordinary moment, and each page turn opens into the child’s imagination across the full spread. This creates a pattern of contrast and discovery that gently shifts perspective. The repeated line, “Do you see what I see?” evolves over the course of the story, moving from curiosity to connection. By the end, it transforms into “I see what you see,” and finally into “Do you feel what I feel?” This progression reflects the deeper emotional arc of the story, moving from simply seeing to truly understanding and sharing an experience.
Q: Do you want to leave any message for your readers?
Find the people in your life who help you see the world with wonder. Slow down, look closer, and stay open to imagination. Often, it is children who remind us how to do this best. When we begin to see the world through their eyes, even the simplest moments can become something extraordinary.
