Stork'd

Artist and painter Michelle Armas joins Julia on Stork'd to discuss her unbelievable journey to adopt her daughter. Michelle shares a little about her experience with discomfort, pain, and medical gaslighting due to endometriosis. After very uncomfortable fertility treatments, Michelle and her husband follow their hearts (and an original vision Michelle had of herself with a daughter) to begin the adoption process. Surprisingly (fate? Luck?) Michelle and her husband have an unbelievable adoption process. Where most prospective parents can wait months or even years to be approved and matched with a child, for Michelle it only took 4 days.

Julia and Michelle discuss the idea that love is expansive and that adoption is one way of expressing that love. They discuss the complicated but open relationship Michelle has with her daughter's birth mother and they discuss how love, and family inform the energetics and aesthetics of Michelle's stunning (and highly coveted) art. They discuss creating your family as a rebellious act that requires radical self love to believe you deserve the family of your dreams. Listen to these and other interesting concepts in this episode of Stork'd.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:24] Michelle introduces herself and what motivates her. She describes her family circle
• [04:15] What Michelle's fertility experience looked like and the trauma caused by the medical community
• [08:13] Her husband's thoughts about a world family - "if there's a child who needs a home and you have a home to offer and you have love in your heart to give a child, then that's, you know, a match made in heaven."
• [10:29] Michelle shares her unusual 4-day adoption journey and the emotional meeting with the birth mom
• [18:04] What is the relationship between Michelle and the birth mom, Alba? What is the relationship between her daughter and her birth mother?
• [23:17] Michelle talks about the boundaries she has set for her daughter and the values she hopes her daughter will have as as she grows up
• [28:34] Michelle reflects on how reading articles about adoption in Self magazine as a teenager first inspired her to consider adoption
• [33:19]Julia and Michelle discuss how it's hard to say "everything worked out" because with adoption, everything has a little twinge of pain: the joy of adoption comes with the pain of relinquishing a child
• [37:41] Michelle explains her meaning of family, and how capturing the essence of family and motherhood informs and shapes her art
• [42:05] Michelle teaches art classes and shares how she loves to do commissions

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The world would be a better place if parents were open to adoption.
• Adoptive and birth parents can have various contact schedules set up during adoption. In some ways, it's like negotiating after a divorce.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Michelle Armas - Website

Michelle Armas Art - Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/michellearmas007/

BIOGRAPHY:

Michelle Armas is an abstractionist painter working mostly on canvas and linen with acrylics, oils, and pastels. She has a graduate degree in Graphic Design from the Portfolio Center in Atlanta. After school, she was thrilled to land her dream job at Landor in New York. After a short time, though, she realized she needed more spontaneous creativity in my life, so she began creating intricate oil paintings in the evenings and weekends. Soon those paintings started to sell and gain attention, and once she moved back to Atlanta, she began to work full-time as an artist.

Majka Burhardt, the author of the book More, joins Julia on Stork'd to explore the joys and challenges of early parenthood. They delve into the transformative effect of having a child on one's sense of self and discuss whether it necessitates letting go of activities you love. What are some strategies for carving out time in a busy schedule? How do you maintain relationships with your partner? What does it mean to want "more"? This is a raw look at navigating early childhood. Listen as Julia and Majka discuss creating a family and how to maintain your identity.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:29] Majka shares who she is and her beliefs about the whole person that can do many things well
• [07:23] The book is the real-time story of Majka's life, how it all came about and the realization that "Oh, I'm pregnant with twins."
• [15:07] Majka talks about not having to give things up but making space
• [19:52] What is the blurry timeline to achieve all the things we want to accomplish along with parenting
• [22:35] Getting away from the role models of what women do and what men do and dividing up responsibilities among the parents
• [25:19] Discussion of allowing to feel the "feelings" when things are hard and how different parenting is in each generation
• [30:44] Raising resilient kids
• [33:26] How did Majka's relationship with her husband change after the birth of the twins
• [40:19] Parenting with privilege and who is this book written for

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• It is a fallacy that if you aren't at a certain percentage of achievement in whatever topic you are debating regarding parenting, you aren't authentic.
• You can feel successful in parenting by giving yourself grace and changing the due date of when things need to be done. Give yourself a break.
• We must remember that we discuss little humans with feelings, emotions and ideas when discussing parenting.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Majka Burhardt - Website

Majka Burhardt - Facebook

Majka Burhardt - Linkedin

Majka Burhardt - Instagram

More - The Book - Available on Amazon

BIOGRAPHY:

Majka Burhardt has a passion for creating unusual connections. As a professional climber, social entrepreneur, author, mother of twins, and filmmaker Majka has spent more than two decades leading multi-stage international ventures focused on current issues of environmental and cultural significance spanning Africa, Europe, South, and North America.

Majka is the Founder and Executive Director of Legado, an international organization that helps secure Thriving Futures for people and the places they call home. Legado originated in 2011 during a pioneering climbing and conservation research expedition to Mozambique and is supported today by some of the world's most influential social change funders and decision-makers.

Majka is the author of More: Life at the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood (Pegasus Books '23), a Next Big Idea Club Must Read. More is an intense and emotional journey born at the confluence of motherhood, adventure, career, and marriage. Raw, candid, and galvanizing, the book is a passionate and poignant testament to the enduring power of love and our lifelong journey to understand ourselves as we strive to always pursue more.

Elizabeth Carr, author and advocate, is the first IVF baby born in the United States and the first medicated IVF Baby in the world. She joins Julia to discuss her journey from conception through her 41 years of an IVF advocate. Elizabeth's parent's story is impressive, particularly regarding the lack of general knowledge about IVF, yet they pioneered this journey of building their family. She will discuss how IVF has affected who she is, the ups and downs of naysayers, and why she continues to be the voice of advocacy for IVF - especially now that it is facing increased public political opposition. Don't miss this information-packed episode of Stork'd.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Julia shares who Elizabeth Carr is; the first IVF baby
• [06:51] Elizabeth reflects on her parent's journey through infertility up through her birth
• [14:41] What does it mean to grow up as the 'miracle baby' and how it affected her teens, and even young adulthood
• [21:49] What some of the most challenging and hurtful conversations are regarding her birth
• [27:04] Legislation that would ban IVF and why she still carries that advocacy torch
• [34:30] Elizabeth comments on a few top changes she would make if given the opportunity
• [38:05] Couples should be encouraged to ask questions and be told about all the different ways of building a family as a second opinion. The industry would be better for it
• [45:05] Elizabeth comments on studies regarding risks for the mother and deviations between an IVF child from other children, and she explains genetic testing available
• [53:29] Elizabeth gives her definition of family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Feeling safe about the doctor you are working with makes all the difference. Don't settle. Find that doctor who makes you feel secure.
• The child born of IVF knows how much they are loved and wanted.
• Couples walking through the infertility journey should have all options presented to them.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Elizabeth Carr - Instagram

Elizabeth Carr - Podcast

Elizabeth Carr - Website

Elizabeth Carr - Twitter

ABOUT ELIZABETH CARR:

I'm a seasoned journalist, podcast host, event host, on-air expert, and keynote speaker. From my industry-insider view as a patient advocate and the first in vitro baby born in the United States back in 1981, let me help you frame the reproductive discussions you need to have with your friends, family, and at a corporate level.

Julietta Skoog, co-founder of Be Sproutable, joins Julia to discuss positive discipline. You don't get training for how to be a parent. Suddenly you just are one and you then have to develop your identity as a parent even as you are caring for a child. So what does parenting mean for you and how will you parent your child?

This episode is packed with information on the definition of being a positive discipline parent and how to achieve that goal. The tagline of Be Sproutable is: "Raising Kids, Growing Ourselves." Hear examples of positive discipline and the three steps of learning this amazing way of raising a child. Tell your friends about this podcast. It will be one of your favorites.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:56] Julietta begins by telling about her professional journey.
• [07:14] What is the definition of positive disciplining parenting?
• [11:42] Julietta talks about finding the fun in parenting and the language of connection and firmness.
• [19:46] What are the three steps to learning positive parenting?
• [27:27] Positive parenting across culture, religion and parenting styles.
• [31:29] The example of a picky eater.
• [34:28] Julietta shares how she built her family, including mentioning her miscarriage and how that has framed her thinking about children.
• [42:54] Can you have the same "relationship" with a non-biological child as a biological child?

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Children are remarkable and deserve respect. But, as parents, we need to look through their eyes at the world as they see it.
• Positive discipline doesn't mean children go wild. It's connection and firmness. It means means connecting with "I see you, and I love you. I can see your perspective". Then follow through with firmness of safety, limits, and routine. Kids expect that.
• Kids learn through play, and parents need to lean into their world of imagination.
• Positive discipline transcends culture and nationality and can be applied within the context of your cultural heritage, value system, belief system or background.

RESOURCE LINKS:

"How to Teach Your Children that All Families are Beautiful" FREE Resource

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Ways to Celebrate Your Family - Free Download

Be Sproutable - Instagram

Be Sproutable - YouTube

BIO:

Julietta Skoog is a Certified Positive Discipline Advanced Trainer with an Ed.S Degree in School Psychology and a Master's Degree in School Counseling with over 20 years of experience helping families in schools and homes. She draws from her real-life practical experience working with thousands of students with a variety of needs and her own three children to parent coaching, bringing a unique ability to translate research, child development and Positive Discipline principles into everyday parenting solutions. Her popular keynote speeches, classes, and workshops have been described as rejuvenating, motivating, and inspiring.

Keegan Prue, the author of The IVF Dad, joins Julia to share the story of infertility he and his wife Olivia experienced. Keegan wrote this book from a man's perspective, and he puts pen to paper to help other men as well as couples to deal with this disappointment and to help them work through the feelings and the process. You will hear the details of this couple's journey through infertility with nothing held back. Today's conversation is authentic and encouraging. Don't miss this episode of Stork'd.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Julia shares facts regarding men being silent on the subject of infertility
• [04:02] Keegan shares his personal and professional background, how he and Olivia met and what their goals were for a family before realizing they weren't getting pregnant
• [12:29] The disappointment of not getting pregnant and their journey to get educated on infertility. Olivia's regular OBGYN gives inaccurate information. Next step – Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) and IVF treatments were recommended
• [20:01] Regular conversations between the couple, education and exploring options before the diagnosis prepared them to step into IVF more readily, as well as clarifying why they wanted to have a family
• [24:30] Keegan shares the experience of becoming pregnant twice and the miscarriages. Other means of having children are explored
• [34:55] As a couple, they discussed nurturing one another and recognizing that self-care is needed. They decided to advocate more strongly for themselves when meeting with the RE doctor. Welcoming their first child, Eliza
• [42:51] Keegan tells what prompted him to write the book, The IVF Dad, and he shares his definition of family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• To become pregnant, don't rely on a general OB GYN to determine hormone levels, etc. Instead, when there is a problem, go to the experts in the field of infertility.
• It is critical to discuss what you need from your partner during difficulties. Everyone's needs are different; sometimes, a person just needs space.
• There are many resources available to educate oneself about infertility. Avail yourself of the social media community as well as seek professional help.

RESOURCE LINKS:

FREE RESOURCE for Stork'd listeners - Becoming a Team When Family Planning Gets Hard: Conversation Starters for Partners Doing Fertility Treatments.

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Keegan Prue - Instagram

Keegan Prue - Website

The IVF Dad Book

BIO

Keegan E. Prue is an author and educator from Upstate New York. He and his wife struggled with infertility, going through two rounds of IVF, two miscarriages, and three embryo transfers before the birth of their first daughter. That experience inspired him to write "The IVF Dad: What I Learned on My Infertility Journey, and How it Can Help You," to help other men and couples going through fertility issues feel more informed, empowered, and equipped to support themselves and each other. In his spare time, Keegan enjoys cooking (grilled greek chicken and veggies are a current favorite), traveling (on the bucket list: the Scottish highlands, Tuscany, and New Zealand), and spending time with his family.

On this episode of Stork'd, Julia talks with Eve Wiley, a proponent and champion of legislation to prevent fertility fraud in the unregulated reproductive medicine industry. Eve's mother was the victim of artificial insemination by her fertility doctor using his sperm without her consent. Eve's story takes her on a roller coaster journey of learning that neither her mother's husband, her dad, nor the sperm donor of record was her father. You will hear the shocking truths about what is allowed in this industry and why legislation is necessary. You don't want to miss this dramatic story.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:14] Eve tells her genetic identity background, and when she finally had access to her medical history
• [07:51] Eve was 16 years old when she discovered she was a donor-conceived offspring and how that affected her family dynamic
• [15:52] The bio dad comes into the picture
• [21:40] The bombshell is dropped. Eve's mom's fertility doctor is her donor dad without her mother's consent
• [33:04] Eve describes the psychological impact she felt and the community members who supported what the doctor did
• [39:31] Eve explains the grief she experiences and reflects on the history of why she is the face of fertility fraud legislation
• [45:45] Reproductive medicine is not regulated and is not held accountable for their actions
• [49:20] Eve lists many much-needed legislative changes she wants to see in this industry
• [53:31] Legislative changes lead to price increases for sperm
• [56:00] Eve discusses the definition of family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• It is unfair to the donor-conceived person that they must manage everyone else's feelings connected in this relationship.
• The doctor in question essentially medically raped Eve's mother.
• More states need to create legislation governing the reproductive medical industry.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Eve Wiley - Instagram

Eve Wiley - Website

Eve Wiley - Twitter

ABOUT: Eve Wiley

My name is Eve Wiley, and I'm the product of fertility fraud.

My parents struggled with infertility and carefully selected an anonymous sperm donor (donor 106 from California Cryobank) to conceive me. When I was 18, I found Donor 106 and developed a wonderful father-daughter relationship. In 2018, through commercial DNA testing, I learned that my mother's fertility doctors used his own sperm instead of the donor my parents selected and consented to. He is my biological father.

I was even more shocked to learn that in 2019, this fact pattern was a crime in only ONE STATE: California. I set out to change the laws in Texas and other states creating civil and criminal causes of action for victims. As of 2022, 8 states have passed some sort of fertility fraud bill.

Monique Farook, the host of the award-winning Infertility and Me podcast, joins Julia to discuss her journey through infertility. Monique faced a multi-year battle with infertility in which she grappled with feelings of shame and anger, experienced racial discrimination by her doctors, navigated a tubal blockage, hypothyroidism, surgery, and natural cycle IVF. We discuss her decision to return to the medical system following a loss of trust in the medical community following experiencing racial bias in her fertility treatment. We laugh about the challenges of raising toddler boys and celebrate that her podcast reaches the unseen and underserved communities facing infertility. In addition, she candidly reveals her story about her marriage, her medical diagnosis, and the premature birth of their son. Don't miss this honest and sometimes emotional episode of Stork'd.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Julia shares Monique's accomplishments
• [05:09] Monique discusses why she started her podcast and the difficulty of finding podcasts created by women of color
• [12:02] The journey of navigating infertility and the discrimination Monique felt, and how this situation affected her marriage
• [23:25] Monique finally accepted that God wasn't punishing her; it was a medical problem
• [28:32] Making the analytical decision of why you want to be a mother
• [30:17] Raising children to become decent human beings that will have an impact on the world
• [34:41] The process Monique and her husband went through to become pregnant
• [39:12] A son is born and is in the NICU for 129 days
• [45:12] Monique speaks about listeners of her podcast. Women need to discuss their grief
• [46:31] Monique shares her definition of family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Anger, denial, and even jealousy of another woman who can become pregnant are all natural emotions when going through infertility.
• Blaming the inability to become pregnant is not a punishment from God. It takes time to see the issue as a medical problem, not a punishment.
• It is critical to decide why you want a baby. Just wanting a cuddly baby isn't reason enough. Being a mom becomes a job for a lifetime.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Monique Farook - Website

Monique Farook - Instagram

Infertility and Me Podcast

BIO: Monique Farouk is a wife, mom, women's health, and infertility advocate. She has been an entrepreneur for more than ten years and likes to give full credit to her husband, Omar Sr., for helping her stretch her entrepreneurial wings.

When she isn't obsessing over the home and work life, you can find her on Instagram creating content for her award-winning podcast, "Infertility And Me." She started the podcast after her path to motherhood was disrupted by female-factor infertility. Through the podcast, Monique has reached thousands of men and women from all over the world—passing the mic to other survivors to share their stories authentically. Monique's podcast was featured in Apple iTune's "New & Noteworthy" editor's picks in March, April, and May of 2022.

Amanda Makulec, a public health data expert, joins Julia to share her heartbreaking story of losing her 3-month-old son. As a researcher, Amanda had written an article regarding the advocacy of Covid vaccines during pregnancy. When her son passed during Covid, there was an instantaneous response on social media blaming Amanda for his death due to taking the Covid vaccine. This episode will make you mad, and it will make you cry, and it will make you see the subjects of social media posts with new compassion. Don't miss the story of the Makulec family.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Julia shares an overview of Amanda Makulec's story
• [03:16] Amanda gives background on her family, career, the articles that got her noticed as a person qualified to discuss Covid data, and the research she read concerning vaccination and pregnancy
• [08:12] Julia and Amanda discuss the right and wrong way to approach the topic of losing a child with a grieving parent
• [13:26] Amanda is about to give birth to a daughter. She shares a variety of feelings
• [18:46] How do you tell your older child what happened to their little brother
• [22:28] Grieving is different for everyone. When you should expect support and when you shouldn't ask
• [29:20] The misinformation spread on social media, the suffering it caused, and the timeline of events the week of Zander's death
• [39:42] Publishing the truth in the New York Times
• [46.57] Re-posting the lies on social media, but defending it, and how others reading the posts or hearing the story apply it to their own lives
• [53:43] Amanda discusses how she answers the complex question of how many children you have

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Be very thoughtful when asking questions of someone who has experienced a loss. Of course, there is no good answer, but 'How are you?' isn't the right question unless you qualify it with 'How are you today.?'
• Passing gossip on social media under the guise that you are being helpful is harmful. Social media can be a dangerous medium when you can remain nameless and faceless.
• When a child asks about the death of someone, don't use metaphors as they went to sleep and didn't wake up. It is better to be honest with a statement like their body stopped working, they died, and they aren't coming back.

RESOURCE LINKS:

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

Amanda Makulec - Website

Amanda Makulec - LinkedIn

Amanda Makulec - Twitter

Amanda Makulec - New York Times Article

ABOUT :

Amanda Makulec is the Senior Data Visualization Lead at Excella, where she coaches teams and develops user-centered data visualization products for federal, non-profit, and private sector clients. Before joining Excella in 2017, Amanda spent eight years working with data in global health programs in more than a dozen countries. She is a founding board member and current Executive Director for the Data Visualization Society and writes about responsible visualization of health data.

Ruby Warrington, author, book doula founder of The Numinous, and movement maker joins Julia to discuss her newest book, Women Without Kids. Ruby uniquely has her finger on the pulse of social revolutions and her latest book explores the growing phenomenon of women living childfree by choice or circumstance.

Together Ruby and Julia discuss some of the many reasons more women are choosing to be childfree including feminist history, financial independence, environmentalism, and social norms. Ruby opens up candidly about her personal decision not to have kids and the many expectations others had for her and we explore conflicting feelings of shame, self questioning, intuition, and certainty.

Why do some women feel shame when deciding not to have a child? What is motherhood? Why is not wanting children still so taboo to talk about? What does a "normal" family look like? Ruby and Julia dive into these questions and more.

Women Without Kids"will hit the book stands on March 28, 2023. Take advantage of Ruby's free gift when you pre-order the book!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:00] Julia introduces Ruby Warrington and defines the mission of Stork'd
• [04:00] Ruby describes her career and why she came up with the term "book doula"
• [09:06] Women Without Kids addresses fundamental stereotypes as to why women make their decisions about having a child
• [16:06] Ruby reflected on the time of her life when she questioned having children, which morphed into is there something wrong
• [25:07] Why is there shame involved in not having children, and are there rising numbers of women without kids
• [33:54] Is there a trend or movement afoot to reduce the number of children you have
• [37:53] The political choices surrounding women's rights
• [43:49] What was the impetus for writing the book, and how is the word being spread
• [46:21] Ruby discusses her journey of emotions leading to accepting her decision regarding children
• [53:52] Ruby defines her meaning of "found family" and discusses the inscription to her family in her book, and she shares her definition of family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Writing a book can be compared to having a baby in that you spend time and energy on both, and the result can be called "your baby."
• Acknowledging that your career takes such focus and leaves you no time for children is a decision women should be able to make without shame.
• Why are women the hardest on other women who choose not to have a family?

RESOURCE LINKS:

Ruby Warrington - Website

Ruby Warrington - Instagram

Ruby Warrington - Facebook

Women Without Kids Book

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

ABOUT RUBY WARRINGTON:

​​Ruby Warrington is the creator of the term Sober Curious. Author of the 2018 book and million download podcast of the same title, her work has spearheaded a global movement to reevaluate our relationship to alcohol. Other works include Material Girl, Mystical World (2017), The Numinous Astro Deck (2019), and The Sober Curious Reset (2020). With 20+ years' experience as a lifestyle journalist and editor, Ruby is known as an astute cultural commentator and true thought leader. She is also the founder of self-publishing incubator Numinous Books. Her new book, Women Without Kids, will be out spring 2023.

Chrysta Bilton, author of Normal Family: On Truth, Love, and How I Met My 35 Siblings, joins Julia to discuss her book. Get ready for an exhilarating story. Chrysta shares what life was like for a child born of a lesbian mother and her father, who donated sperm for a living. Her family was bold, sometimes dysfunctional, and anything but traditional. Chrysta tells her story in a truthful, enlightening, engaging, and sometimes funny way. You'll hear about alcoholism, shame, lies, schizophrenia, cryobanks, self-perception, nurture versus nature, and how Chrysta navigated through it all to become a successful wife, parent, sibling, adult, and an author worth reading. Don't miss this captivating episode of Stork'd.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [02:52] Chrysta Bilton provides an overview of her book
• [05:25] Chrysta's sperm donor was misled by her mother and became a serial sperm donor for many children
• [07:03] All of the players in this book come from different perspectives on their truth
• [11:54] Chrysta discovers her father struggled with schizophrenia and discovers she has many siblings. She has developed compassion for her father
• [16:41] Chrysta struggled for ten years, dealing with her upbringing. She worked hard to analyze her circumstances, the mistakes she was making, and how to walk away from destructive behaviors
• [19:51] How her siblings relate to their "father" and each other
• [23:28] Advice on what to tell a child conceived by a donor. Nurture versus nature and how her parents' backgrounds form who they became
• [31.25] Chrysta shares her views on the pros and cons of cryobanks and the obligation they have to women
• [35:39] Chrysta tells how the book came about, how she parented her sister, and her self-evaluation
• [45:30] What is the definition of a family

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Avoid emotional pain for a child conceived by a donor. Instead, tell them the truth about their conception.
• Be emotionally healed before starting a family, whether it be traditional, single parenting, or a sperm donation. Children deserve your best self.
• Change and heal and make better choices. Forgive your parents and stop blaming them for everything wrong that happens in your life.

RESOURCE LINKS:

The Book: Normal Family

Chrysta Bilton - LinkedIn

Chrysta Bilton - Instagram

Chrysta Bilton - Twitter

Stork'd - Facebook

Stork'd - Instagram

Stork'd- YouTube

About Chrysta Bilton:

Chrysta Bilton is an American author who lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband and two children. Normal Family is her first book.