My stories are fundamentally about the love of family.

When you come from a family of storytellers, you're doomed. You just have to tell stories.

My appearances are almost theatrical performances. I bring items for the children to see, such as photographs and actual piece of meteorite, a family quilt, sometimes spectacles, sometimes clothing, so that they can understand what I write about is family stories based in fact.

My stories deal with multicultural situations as well as multigenerational settings.

I came from a family of incredible storytellers, but I didn't start writing children's books until I was 41 years old.

My family always encouraged my drawing ability. Kids in school who teased me about my reading would get out of their seats and stand behind my desk as I worked and go, 'Wow, you can really draw.' Later, I earned a degree in Fine Art and got a Ph.D. in Art History.