2021- Present

I’ve always struggled with the phrase, “It’s okay not to feel okay.”

To me, it felt unfinished. What happens after we say that? What tools do we give young people when “not okay” feels like a constant, not a moment? 

     Many people don’t believe it when they meet me now, but before growing up, I was the quiet one.

The girl who hid behind her mom’s legs.

The kid pulled out of class because the feelings I was having were too big to keep inside and too confusing to put into words.

     Writing was one of my first tools. Even when I couldn’t speak my feelings out loud, I could write them down. It gave me a sense of control. It gave me language. Identifying difficult feelings.  But what helped me just as much was my dog, Abby. Her quiet companionship, sassy energy, and the simple wag of her tail reminded me I wasn’t alone.

The earliest version of Wags was written at the same school where I met my now-illustrator, Ellyana Wills.  Bringing Abby and the Magic Tail to life—a story about a dog who discovers her tail has the power to control her powers, because she, too, struggles with anxiety.

    As I entered college at the University of Colorado Boulder, I faced new challenges—distance from home, academic pressure, and mental health struggles that felt bigger and louder than ever before. However, the truth is that high school had already been an enjoyable ride. Like many teenagers, I was learning to balance identity, expectations, and anxiety, often behind the scenes. It was during those years that I began to realize how much I wished emotional support had been made more accessible, less clinical, and more creative. 

    Writing continued to be my outlet, but I also started to reflect on the tools I didn’t have growing up and the ones I obtained myself. That reflection became a mission. In college,

 I returned to writing with a new purpose and hope to bring passion to my resume. I wanted to create a story that helped children and their caregivers navigate anxiety with empathy, imagination, and usable tools. A tale that offered comfort and clarity—one that supported not just kids, but the grown-ups walking through those hard feelings with them. 

My parents, my incredible therapist Valerie Timko, my brother, my friends, and even certain media moments all played a part in my journey. They were the ones who made me stop and think, “Wait… I feel that way, too.” And that realization—that healing happens with the people you care about—changed everything for me.

And then there’s the younger version of me—the little girl who thought she wasn’t “smart” in the traditional way, who constantly needed help in school, and stressed over every detail. I wish I could go back and tell her: Your brain is wired for something special. Life becomes extraordinary. And your words are meant to be shared.

I am no expert, but I am someone who hopes to make someone else's day feel easier and happier.