“When she came to write her story, she would wonder when the books and the words started to mean not just something, but everything.”

–The Book Thief

One of my earliest reading memories was pointing out the “lettuce” sign at the grocery store. Having recently read this word for the first time at school, I wanted to show off my skills to my mom. Gesturing to the sign I (now regretfully) uttered the word, “lay-toose”.

The mispronunciation of this one word has brought years of embarrassment (for me) and laughter (for my family). Despite it all, this misunderstanding only confirms my fascination with words.

26 letters in numerous combinations can make someone have goosebumps, smile, tear up, and think back to a memory. The power to connect people emotionally is why I’m passionate about writing.