I was born and raised in southern Connecticut, where I went on to receive my undergraduate degree from Fairfield University. Later, I earned my Masters in Fine Arts in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. When I wasn’t studying, I was working part-time jobs as a camp counselor, customer service agent, and receptionist at a mental health agency, all of which have come in handy throughout my career in children’s publishing.

I enjoyed working as a book editor for over a decade, first at Candlewick Press, then at Scholastic Press. During this time, I had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed artists such as Rosemary Wells, Kate DiCamillo, Norma Fox Mazer, Deborah Wiles, Paul B. Janezcko, Alison McGhee, Cecil Castellucci, Alexander Stadler, Ethan Long, Stephanie Watson, and many, many others.

Throughout my career, I’ve been dedicated to providing artists with the attention they and their books deserve. While I’m always honored and delighted to work with established artists, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to nurture and champion burgeoning talent. I enjoy collaborating with artists who are passionate about their work and about writing in general, who understand and appreciate the role of revision in the bookmaking process, and who possess an open mind, a good sense of humor, and a willingness to take risks.

I’m also a published author. My books include Rocko and Spanky Go to a Party and Rocko and Spanky Have Company, illustrated by my sister, Jenna LaReau; Snowbaby Could Not Sleep, illustrated by Jim Ishikawa; and Ugly Fish and Rabbit & Squirrel, both illustrated by my friend Scott Magoon. I’m happy to note that my work as a writer informs my work as an editor, and vice versa. Artists appreciate that I not only sympathize, but also empathize, with their experiences — whether it’s the frustration of rejection and the elation of acceptance, the revision of a difficult chapter, the anxiety that comes with waiting for reviews, or the satisfaction of seeing that royalty check.

Currently, I live in Providence with my husband and our two cats. Among other things, I hate driving and housework, and I love true crime and champagne.