Gracie is a Filipina-American, award-winning educator. She was born and raised in the California Bay Area where she currently lives with her husband and two children. She holds a BA in English from UC Davis and an MA in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University.

Secret Love Song, which recently won the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators 2025 WIP Award, is an #ownvoices culmination of her desire to create relatable and engaging novels for her students of color. Her hope is that its universal themes of mental health, familial duty, and first love will resonate with readers who see themselves in the protagonist’s journey.