May I introduce Abel to you, our tour guide on several trips to the beautiful islands of Vanuatu. He soon became a friend who shared with us how he grew up on a remote island in the South Pacific. Our collaboration resulted in a book that he consequently introduced to many schools in Vanuatu to help preserve the island’s cultural heritage. I’m proud to say that sales on cruise ships and in local book stores netted enough funds to build two 1000 liter freshwater tanks for local primary schools.

I’ve been a passionate teacher all my life and love to help young people see beyond their immediate world of home, school, and community. That is why I now write books for Middle Grade readers who are intrigued by the way other pre-teens experience their own coming-of-age.

I have traveled to more than 100 countries and am eager to share my cultural experiences and insights with readers with the aim of building bridges of understanding between peoples of different cultures.

If we judge a people by what we learned in 6th grade geography, or by what the media depicts today, we don’t get a true idea.

This is something we acquire if we share experiences and listen to local stories. Books for children should offer accurate information, promote a positive worldview, and embrace a child’s innate sense of wonder and fun. I believe my stories offer a new voice and a new vision, as I immerse myself in diverse cultures, befriending locals and dramatizing their inspiring tales.

That’s the beautiful thing about books: they let the reader travel without plane tickets, and they can give insights that may become the foundation for empathy.

On July 13, I was invited to put my thoughts together for a short interview for FOX News (Knoxville). You can read it here:

In this world of divisions, let’s dive deeply into a culture very different from our own: firstly, to experience a cultural event not many tourists get to encounter, and secondly, to realize that the fundamental values we live by are universal. These stories may open lines of communication between parents and pre-teens, exploring the cost and value of education, friendship, respect, and courage.

I had the chance to be an active Scout Leader for 12 years, which taught me to believe in the resilience and ingenuity of young people and filled me with hope for the future. Then I had the privilege to teach languages in an international setting for 16 years. I've learned to communicate in 6 languages, and am always ready to chat with anyone, anywhere.

Now I write books for Middle-Grade readers and hope the colorful reality of our shared planet is as riveting as tales of magic and superpowers. In fact, I have learned that nothing is as interesting and intriguing as the truth...since that is what touches all of us. And to the extent we can walk in somebody else's shoes (or flip-flops) we can develop empathy and understanding

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Travel and engage. Smile, because kindness is the one language everyone understands. Be respectful. Let travel change you, make you modest by showing you that you are the stranger who comes to learn. Learn all you can about the culture, the beliefs, the ways of building a life, a family; that’s my philosophy.