Lorena grew up with a pencil in her hand. For as long as she can remember, she was drawing. All through grammar school and high school, she was known as the class artist and went on to study graphic design in college, imagining a creative career ahead. She never expected that getting a job and living on her own would leave her little time to draw or that design work might not be as creative as she’d hoped.

Following her instincts, she found a talent for making things “make sense,” eventually becoming an Information Architect and User Experience Designer in high tech. She thought her creativity was gone, until an Australian Shepherd named Phebe came into her life.

Inspired by Phebe’s antics, Lorena began writing funny stories and drawing caricatures. She rediscovered her creative spark in sharing the joy and laughter that her dog brought her. But she never imagined just how deep a dog’s love could go, or how deeply she would grieve when she lost her.

To console herself, she turned her drawings into gifts, printing them on T-shirts. That small gesture blossomed into Phebe-n-Me, a T-shirt company. But Lorena had more stories to tell than could ever fit on a shirt. To share Phebe’s love and wisdom, Lorena began writing children’s books.

How to Make a Sandwich is her first picture book, with more to come.

(And if you're wondering why her dog's name was spelled Phebe, not Phoebe, you'll have to ask Shakespeare.)

“A beautifully illustrated story that children and caregivers alike will savor.”
– Kirkus Reviews