Hello, dear readers! Today I’d like to introduce you to Jean Ramsden, author of The Secret Life of Jenny Liu.

Jenny Liu is on the move again. Except this time, she hasn’t landed at yet another Chinese-American School in California but at a public school in South Carolina. Shy, artistic Jenny wonders if she will ever figure out how to fit in amongst rowdy fifth graders and eccentric teachers with hard-to-understand southern accents. To make matters worse, the class thinks she is super smart and her piano teacher thinks she is a musical genius. With school activities that test her intelligence and an upcoming piano recital, it’s getting harder for Jenny to do what’s right—to tell the truth—especially since she knows that The Real Jenny Liu would be even more of an outsider. Or would she?

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Hello and welcome to the blog! Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My twitter description sort of sums it up! Communicator & Educator/Art & Book Lover/Dreamer & Doer/Feminist & Yogi

I’m also married with four children.

In terms of writing, I started out loving poetry and journalism in high school. At Cornell University, my interest in children’s media developed. I went on to pursue that area of study at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

I’ve worked for studios and start-ups, corporations and universities. Writing has been, and continues to be, a constant thread in my professional life.

My own creative writing has focused on children’s literature. I adore the marriage of text and art in picture books. I dig the uniqueness and possibility of middle grade. And the emotion of young adult is, to me, incredibly impactful.

What unusual hobbies or interests do you have?

I’ve been practicing yoga for over twenty years and recently became an instructor.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Dishonesty.

What part of your life are you willing to spend more money on for quality?

#1 Food

#2 Travel

#3 Education

When do you consider it an appropriate time to lie?

Never.

What is the happiest day of your life?

I’ve had moments of pure happiness, either when I’m surrounded by my family and close friends or alone and meditating.

How do you measure success?

If I am living authentically, walking each day in peace, connecting to others, and using my talents, then I feel successful.

What is your most treasured possession?

My healthy body and mind.

If you could spend a day with someone you admire (alive, dead or fictional) who would it be?

David Foster Wallace.

What’s the most important trait to you in a friend?

Authenticity.

If you could teach everyone in the world one thing, what would it be?

Be true to you.