About Gillian
Hi, I'm so glad you're here! This is a great place to learn more about me.
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Why I Write
Writing has always been a big part of who I am--it's how I figure out the world. When I was very young, I would dictate stories to my mom and make books by stapling the pages together. I have done many different types of writing as a career: technical writing, public relations, web content, journalism, grant writing, and education writing. Even though I always knew I wanted to write children's books, it took me a long time to be brave enough to try. Caterpillar Summer was the first book I wrote. It was published in 2019.
My Books
I feel very lucky to be able to write books for children--they are the best audience because they get so absorbed in the story. Many times, the books we read in childhood become a part of us forever. I have a special place in my heart for books about families and friends. I also love to write about nature. I try to make my characters feel like real kids you might know. I also try to show adult characters making growth just like my kid characters do. Finally, I like books that make me feel all kinds of things.
Growing Up
I grew up in Southern California with my parents and two younger brothers, Andy and Jared. I loved playing sports and going to the beach. I also loved our pets--at different times we had a cat, lizard, birds, hamsters, gerbil, chinchilla, and many, many guinea pigs.
Christmas Eve with Andy and Jared.
Me in elementary school.
A book I made in preschool.
Moves + changes
After graduating from high school, I studied at University of California, Irvine, where I majored in Literature and minored in Linguistics. Then I moved to San Francisco. It was there that I met my husband, Jon. Together we moved to San Diego and then to St. Louis. In St. Louis, we grew to a family of five and made many wonderful friends. Eventually, we moved to North Carolina, which we now call home.
At home our first year in North Carolina with Jon, Leo, Nora, and Olive.
San Francisco cable car, San Diego beach, Nora at her first St. Louis Cardinals game.
Favorite people, places, and things
Besides reading and writing, I like to cook, travel, take pictures, paint watercolors, play board games, do crossword pencils, and learn Spanish and Italian. Here are a few pictures that show some of my favorite people, places, and things!
