Lauren is a children’s book writer and a lifelong lover of words. Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, she grew up on Animorphs and The Boxcar Children, but longed to see more characters who looked like her on the page. She seeks to tell stories that reflect her perspective and experiences as a yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese American). Lauren lives in Denver with her husband and two children, where she enjoys knitting, cooking, tending to her houseplants, and escaping to the mountains when time permits.