About

about me

I'm a children's author who grew up with books and daydreams in Caracas, Venezuela. Once an environmental attorney protecting the oceans, I now spin stories inspired by nature, cool science, and the intricacies of family and friendship. I write middle grade novels and picture books.

My books include Near and Deer (Scholastic 2024); Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (Razorbill, 2022); Manatee's Best Friend (Scholastic, 2021); and A Morning with Grandpa, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books 2016, New Voices Award winner). My next book, a World Cup-themed soccer story, Stealing the Score, will be out in February 2026.

Two of my poems are in picture book anthologies, If I Could Choose a Best Day, illustrated by Olivia Sua (Candlewick Press 2025) and Thanku: Poems of Gratitude. illustrated by Marlena Myles (Lerner Books 2019). My sci-fi short story, "Life 2.0" is found Don't Touch That!: A Sci-Fi and Fantasy Parenting Anthology (2022), and art was featured in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art New Waves 2012 exhibit, Huffington Post, Oceana, and World Wildlife Fund.

I co-founded the kid lit resource website Kidlit411, which connects and supports children's writer and illustrators.

I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, went to Yale College and Harvard Law School, and was lucky to do what I loved for over a decade, protecting the oceans at the U.S. Department of Justice and the non-profit group Oceana. Now I'm even luckier, spinning stories for kids. I live in Virginia Beach with my family and a floofy cat.

I'm represented by Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Interesting Family History: My Grandfathers

My father, Bernard Liu, published his memoir about growing up with China's most famous political prisoner, Zhang Xueliang. My grandfather, Liu Yiguang, was in charge of his house arrest. My father's family lived with Zhang in their home for 25 years (between 1936 and 1962) in China and Taiwan. I edited the book, which was incredibly fulfilling (available on Amazon).

My mother's father is also a well-known figure in Chinese history: General Fan Hanjie fought for the Nationalists during the Chinese civil war and for China during World War II. His story includes getting a U.S. Medal of Freedom, finding Mao Zedong's suitcase of classic books in the aftermath of a battle, and being friends with Puyi, the last emperor of China, while in a "re-education" camp after his capture, Read my blog post about his story.

My mother (and my sister and I) are also direct descendants of Governor Lin Zexu (1785-1850) who started the First Opium War by dumping British opium into the ocean.