My Writing Process

Turns out, I wasn’t meant to be an engineer. Or an attorney. Or a nurse. I was meant to be a writer. I loved writing as a kid—but I wasn’t very good, so somewhere along the way, I quietly put it aside. Years later, when my children were young and their brother died, I found my way back to storytelling to help them cope. And now…I can’t seem to stop. In fact, I was so deep in writing this morning that I missed my train stop. Not by one stop... By three. Some things just have a

✨ Meet Elisa, the Christmas Ducky! ✨ She’s tiny, she’s brave, and she just might be the most festive rubber ducky you’ve ever met. Elisa began her journey as a stowaway in Shana, the Christmas Squirrel! , but now she’s got her very own story—full of adventure, mischief, and a few pigeons with big city dreams. 🗽🕊️🎁 Elisa’s story is a gentle reminder that, sometimes, getting lost is how we find our way home. Stay tuned for more sneak peeks as I bring Elisa’s world to life!

This is an early sketch from Felix and the Magic Sea , illustrated by the incredibly talented Fabiana Attanasio. The story begins with a little boy and his mother walking along the beach…but something magical is about to happen. ✨ imagination ✨ adventure ✨ a deep parent-child bond ✨ and a boy who becomes something extraordinary What do you think Felix is about to discover in the sea? 👀 Should I share more sneak peeks?

Wow! Felix and the Magic Sea — the sketches are here! 🌊 Seeing Felix come to life for the very first time has me in tears - joyful tears. These early sketches are already so full of heart, wonder, and movement… I can only imagine how breathtaking they’ll be once the vibrant blues and greens of the sea are added. I am beyond grateful to be working with the incredibly talented and world-renowned, Fabiana Attanasio, who is bringing this story to life in the most beautiful way.

My sister, Kimberly, drew my first logo. Now, I’m refreshing my author brand with a professional designer and just received two new logo options… and I can’t decide! They both feel like me in different ways — one a little more whimsical, one a little more sleek. Which one do you like better? Logo 1 or Logo 2? Your vote helps more than you know 💛 #michelleluise

The Story of Felix and the Magic Sea

Felix and the Magic Sea

A few years ago, I never imagined that a children’s book I wrote would be featured in Law360. This article explores how my work as an attorney—and my family’s journey through grief—shaped a children’s book about love, teamwork, and what really makes Christmas magical. My debut book, Santa Skips Christmas!?!, is ultimately about showing up for one another when things don’t go as planned. You can read the full piece here: https://www.law360.com/articles/2424841 I’m grateful

I am beyond thrilled to announce that the incredibly talented Fabiana Attanasio will be the illustrator for my upcoming book, The Boy and the Sea ! 🎨✨ Fabiana is an Italian illustrator based near Rome who has loved drawing since childhood and pursued her passion through formal studies in illustration. She has brought stories to life for children around the world and has a beautiful ability to blend traditional media with digital artistry — from brushes and pencils to vibran

Last year’s Washington-Liberty Holiday Bazaar completely changed my life. It might sound dramatic—it’s just a high school bazaar filled with local artisans and holiday crafts—but that day set my author journey in motion. Across the room, I spotted a woman selling a book called Goodnight Menopause! I hesitated, pretended to browse some ornaments, then finally ran over and blurted out: “Are you a local author? How did you do it? What’s your name?” Her name was Melissa. She gra

Big News for Christmas!

I’m beyond excited to share the cover of my very first children’s book: Santa Skips Christmas!?! 🎅 What if… just once… Santa took...

She’s not your average squirrel—Shana is clever, kind-hearted, and about to become your child’s new holiday favorite. Shana, the...

Shana, the Christmas Squirrel, is one of my newest characters! I created her story when I found this in my daughters’ advent calendar. ...

Getting the final illustrations for Santa Skips Christmas!?! is such a magical moment—it’s like my story went from being real in my heart...

Meet my newest character—Felix—a boy who lives at the edge of the sea, where love, danger, and transformation intertwine. In my upcoming...

Miss You, Moon! follows a little girl named Mia who is born into a world without a moon.

Miriam Laundry probably doesn’t even know who I am. But she changed my life. One day, her name popped up in my Facebook feed: “Free...

Ever heard of trim sizes, bleeds, and print margins? Neither had I. Turns out, children’s book publishing is a lot more technical than...

Could I do it all? I thought so. - Write the book? Absolutely! - Illustrate it? Why not? - Design the page layout? How hard could it be?...