Leaping into summer like so 💛✨☀️🌻

My bio featuring my updated pronouns: she/they

A personal little update ☺️

Full Manuscript Critique - MG or YA Auction item 'Full Manuscript Critique - MG or YA' hosted online at 32auctions.

✨Please help me spread the word as I try to raise $15K for families ASAP

I will be doing a 50-page YA SFF intensive limited to 20 authors this summer for #KidLit4Ceasefire fundraising. It will be epic!!!✨

www.32auctions.com/organization...

Reunited with my manuscript for a final round of edits.

I feel like a kid again, playing with all the sand I wrote into this sandbox.

Crossing fingers for this one—my childhood self would’ve loved it 💛

I want to slap my computer right now 😂

I’m coming, wait for me! I hear the [ends of this revisiooon]!

a man in a blue and white striped shirt is standing next to two stuffed animals ALT: a man in a blue and white striped shirt is standing next to two stuffed animals

Another late night writing update: I just finished revising Act 2!!

Painting again 💖

Late night writing thought: oh my gosh, I adore this book. The more I revise it, the more I have a good feeling about it ☺️

Illustration of a young Filipino American girl in a yellow dress and orange sweater, holding a microphone stand and feeling magical.

Missing my spoken word girl 💛🧡 but it’s been so fun revisiting her with my evolving art style—here’s hoping this graphic novel finds its home one day ✨

I love a good Wizard of Oz adaptation, and it’s been fun doodling what mine would look like 💙🌈

Dorothy is FilAm, of course, with a sweet filipiniana dress and Philippine woven basket. And the Scarecrow loves utilizing his flimsily epic height to help his friends out.

May share more 💛

A young FilAm girl with heart-shaped pigtails and pink overalls declares, “Huni, today is a perfect day to learn something new!”

Celebrating my dream to author/illustrate picturebooks and chapter books 💛

Meet Huni Cruz! She’s a 6yo FilAm girl who is determined to learn one new thing a day (and add a commemorative pin to her collection). I love drawing her and exploring her world, and I hope to share more of her soon!

It’s time for a scene change. Let’s do this 💛

You can kindly exit stage left, January. Meanwhile, I’ll stay and embrace the warmth of my community. The possibility of new job applications. The inspiration from a makeshift writing retreat curated for my partner @unobstructedspace’s birthday. The words and actions I’ll be championing.

January, you threw in my face one layoff, two broken down cars, too many neighborhoods on fire, and too, too, TOO many lives lost and rights stripped.

Clarion West Announces Scholarship for Trans Writers The Clarion West writers’ workshop has announced a new scholarship for “trans, two-spirit, nonbinary, and other gender-expansive authors.” The Sea Star scholarship, funded by an a…

Clarion West Announces Scholarship for Trans Writers locusmag.com/2025/01...

Many congratulations to all the ALA YMA recipients, including @thegabecole.bsky.social , @aidawrites.bsky.social , and @erinentrada.bsky.social !!! So thrilled to celebrate all your stories! 💛💛💛

Ahh congrats to all the AANHPI authors at the ALA YMA 2025!!

Also, I’m already sat and ready for the ALA Youth Media Awards tomorrow 🌟 Sending congratulatory wishes to all 2024 authors! Excited to celebrate and feel much needed joy with the Kidlit Community 💖

Thankful for the rain on SoCal 💛💛💛

Not me dreaming of literary tattoos 👀🧐📚

#Kidlit friends - time to spread the word! With the fires and devastation in LA, many amazing kid lit peoples have come together to help hold an auction to help!

Check out @kidlitforla.bsky.social for big names involved, critiques, books, and more!

Help out by sharing!

#kidlitart #kidlitartists

Graphic that says: Thank you for helping raise over $5,000! Next goal: $10,000 raised. Visit auction: https://bit.ly/kidlit4ceasefire2025auction

Thank you to everyone who've bid on items for the 2nd annual #KidLit4Ceasefire fundraiser already! 🫶

With a ceasefire coming tomorrow, families will be hoping to evacuate injured family members.

175+ items left without bids!
www.32auctions.com/organization...

Next goal $10,000 raised!

A little 2024 reflection about accomplishments 🌟

Spotify wrapped with three different Little Women soundtracks in Top 5 Artists

Oof 🙃

This Giving Tuesday, I wanted to share a personal goal. Children and families need our help today. If you can, donate (charity.centuryclubsd.org/fundraiser/5...) to help me reach my fundraising goal of $300 to children, teens, and families with the power of reading.

Thank you all and happy reading!

Achievement unlocked this year: I started working at a wonderful organization called Words Alive 💙

I first got involved with Words Alive because I wanted to make a difference in the reading journeys of young people in my community.