I am a National Board Certified Teacher with over 20 years experience as a bilingual teacher and educational consultant in the areas of literacy, differentiation, classroom management and strategies for English Language Learners. I am also the founder of ConnectingAuthors, the largest booking agency in the U.S., bringing children's authors and illustrators into schools, libraries, museums and conferences as role models of literacy and the arts.  MY MAMA EARTH national tour dates: Sept. 9- Marin EcoFestival, 2 pm Kids' Stage Sept. 15- Books Inc, Berkeley, CA 4th Street Nov. 3- Vegas Valley Book Festival, Las Vegas, NV PAST EVENTS: April 6- NYC, FAO Schwarz, Fifth Avenue! 3-4pm April 7-Boston, MA Barefoot Studios (Concord), 10-12 am April 19- Marin Preparatory Academy (Private event) April 21- OFFICIAL LAUNCH at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA 10-12 am April 23-Kids Place in Novato (private event) April 27-Kids on the Hill in Corte Madera (private event) April 29- Reading Bug in San Carlos, CA 11-12 April 29- Natural Resources in San Francisco, CA 4-5 May 5- Books Inc in Berkeley, CA 2-4     http://www.connectingauthors.org
This is me now.	This is me as a child.
HAVE YOU EVER... Pulled a friend out of quicksand in Costa Rica? Ridden on an elephant in the rain forest in Thailand? Been woken by congo monkeys at 4 in the morning? Dressed up for Halloween as a giant box of fries? Kissed a banana slug for good luck in Muir Woods? Danced a jig with villagers in Spain? Ridden in an elevator that goes side to side in Germany? Snorkeled with sea turtles and dolphins in Hawaii? I HAVE!! WHAT ADVENTURES HAVE YOU HAD TODAY?	YOU WANT MORE DETAILS? I live where the deer come to eat blackberries almost every day (today they were here!). I used to own and run a ceramic mosaic business called "Mosaic Maestras." I often think and dream in Spanish. The book that most inspired me to be a writer is: THE ALCHEMIST by Paolo Coelho (a MUST read!). I believe, as Paolo so eloquently states that: "If you want something with all your heart, and you follow your destiny, all the world will conspire to help you achieve your dream." The person who most inspired me to become an artist is my Mom (along with Monet and Gaudi). When I'm not writing, illustrating or salsa dancing, you can probably find me at my nephew's Varsity football game or at the ocean.
Thanks for your support, inspiration and encouragement to: Janice & Ray, Grandma Grace, Michelle G., Ann, Greg, Sam, Steve & Jami, Jacob, David, Jerry, Bob, Anita, Marcy & Pete, Georgia, Susan, Ricardo, Belen, Laurie, Danielle, Tanya, Nena, Marji, Jeanne, Michael, Kiernan, Julia & Ira, Jonathan & Hannah, Aunt Judy, Chalmers, Jessica, Scott, Laura, Alejandra, my editors at Random House, Barefoot and Scholastic all of the wonderful children with whom I have worked over the years!