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Hello
I’m a writer based in central California, where I spend my days wrangling two kids, a husband, and a dog—though not always in that order. When I’m not busy creating fictional worlds, you’ll find me buried in a book, attempting Pinterest crafts with varying degrees of success, or sipping coffee with friends while pretending my laundry isn’t plotting a hostile takeover.
My Story
For as long as I can remember, books have fascinated me. I spent the first five years of my life as a foster child, often seeking refuge in the few books I could find—losing myself in the pictures and imagining a world far different from my own.
When I was adopted just before my sixth birthday, I gained not only a family, but a mother who believed deeply in the power of books. She encouraged my reading, and soon I was rescuing Black Beauty, floating downriver on a raft with Jim, and proudly reminding everyone that I was “Lilianna—with two N’s.”
As I grew, so did my desire to share my own stories—ones that could offer hope when it was needed most. Those early attempts will remain hidden in their secret resting place, but the dream stayed with me.
Years later, as a wife and mother, I passed my love of reading on to my own children. Watching them become avid readers has been one of my greatest joys. My oldest, now entering middle school, has read at a high school level for years. Yet, finding books that challenged her intellect while still being age-appropriate was often a struggle.
That challenge sparked a new passion in me: to create the kind of story she—and readers like her—could fall in love with. A story that would capture her imagination, fuel her sense of adventure, and show her that bravery and greatness live within her.
That passion became this book. And now, I’m sharing Soraya and her sister’s journey with the world, hoping it inspires young readers to believe in their own courage, embrace their adventures, and discover that they are capable of more than they ever imagined.