"The power of stories and pursuing your passion." How Donna Barba Higuera found her way from an agricultural town in central California, to a career as an optometrist and mom, to a New York Times best selling author and Newberry Medal Award winner for her middle grade and children's picture books. 

 In this episode you will learn:

• How her passion for writing and storytelling started at a very young age, and books are inspired by her history, family and grandmother.
• What led her to pursue a career in the sciences to become a doctor and how that passion for writing  and storytelling never left her.
• How committing to a writers critique group helped her stay committed to the process of writing, while she managed a full time career as an optometrist and raised her kids.
• Why a trip to Kauai with her family is meaningful to her and how a surprise Zoom call during that trip changed the course of her career and life as a writer.

About Donna Barba Higuera

Donna Barba Higuera is the New York Times best selling author of  Middle Grade and picture books that reinvent history, folklore, and or her own life experience into compelling storylines. She lives in Washington State with her husband, four kids, three dogs and a frog. Her books include Lupe Wong Won't Dance, El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!, and The Last Cuentista, and have won awards including: the Newbery medal, both Pura Belpré medal and honor, PNBA best book of the year award,  and the Sid Fleischman award for best children's humor book of the year.

Learn more about Donna and buy her books at her website, or your local independent bookstore.

Follow Donna on Instagram.